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The Sin Of Laziness

June 08, 2008

DILIGENT SHALL BEAR RULE

Proverbs 12:24The hand of the diligent shall bear rule [authority]: but the slothful [lazy] shall be under tribute.

Proverbs 12:24 Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. (NIV)

Proverbs 12:24 Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.(NLT)

DEFINATION OF “DILIGENCE”

Diligence - Steady in application to business; constant in effort or exertion to accomplish what is undertaken without unnecessary delay or sloth; assiduous; attentive; industrious; not idle or negligent.

DILIGENT MAN IS A MAN OF ACTIVITY

Genesis 47:5-6 And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee: 6 The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

GOD DESIGNED US TO WORK

Genesis 2:15 And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to do work in it and take care of it.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might [diligence]; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

LAZINESS IS SIN

Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of IDLENESS was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Idleness - Abstinence from labor, reluctance to be employed, or to exert either body or mind; the state of a person who is unemployed in labor, or unoccupied in business; the state of doing nothing. Idleness is the parent of vice. (Websters 1828)

SLOTHFULNESS KEEPS US FROM BEING DILIGENT

Proverbs 19:15 Slothfulness [Laziness] casteth [brings on] into a deep sleep [inactive]; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

IS WISE IN HIS OWN CONCEIT

Proverbs 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

THE SLUGGARD IS FULL OF EXCUSES

Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

Proverbs 26:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

HE LOVES TO PROCRASTINATE

Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

THE ANT IS THE PICTURE OF DILIGENT WORK

Proverbs 6:6-11 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

DISORDERED LIFESTYLE AND PRIORITIES

Proverbs 24:27,30-34 Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in the field; and after that, see to the building of your house.30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

IS A GREAT WASTER

Proverbs 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

NOT COMMITTED AND IRRESPONSIBLE

Proverbs 10:26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

Proverbs 25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful [Trustworthy,Reliable] messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

HE LOVES HIS EASE

Proverbs 26:14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. 15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

THE SLUGGARD IS ALWAYS DISCONTENT

Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

WHY?

Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

THE SLUGGARD STARTS BUT NOT FINISH THINGS

Proverbs 12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

SLOTHFUL MAN IS THE OPPOSITE OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN

Proverbs 15:19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

IT IS HABIT-FORMING

Ecclesiastes 10:18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through

LAZINESS LEADS TO OTHER SINS

Proverbs 26:16-17 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. 17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

WOMEN DON'T BE SLOTHFUL TOWARD YOUR GOD GIVEN ROLE

1 Timothy 5:13-14 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

BE NOT SLOTHFUL IN PROVIDING FOR THE FAMILY

1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

DO NOT BE SLOTHFUL IN SERVING THE LORD AND OTHERS

Romans 12:10-11 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful [lazy] in business [diligence]; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

BE NOT SLOTHFUL TO POSSESS THE LAND

Judges 18:9 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.

DILIGENT WILL INHERIT THE PROMISES

Hebrews 6:6,11-12 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

DILIGENT SERVANT SHALL BEAR RULE

Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

SLOTHFUL SERVANT CAST INTO OUTER DARKNESS

Matthew 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:31 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

GIVE DILIGENCE TO ENTER INTO THAT REST

Hebrews 4:10-11 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour [give diligence] therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

BE DILIGENT TO BE FOUND WITHOUT SPOT AND BLAMELESS

2 Peter 3:13-14 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot [free from sin of laziness] , and blameless.