Daily Devotional for Thursday December 30, 1999

Being Lazy

(Proverbs 18:9)

Being lazy. Many people ask me each day where I get the inspiration for these devotions every day. I literally sit down and write these every morning around 5am. It is quiet in the office, my mind is fresh, and hopefully God is speaking into my heart what to share with you. Some days what I feel God leading me to write makes sense, other days it doesn't. This is a "doesn't day" but here it goes. I am convinced through Scripture that God expects us to be busy, to be active, and to be productive in our lives. It is through this activity that we earn our living or get an education, participate in sports and other recreational activities, interact with family and friends, and most important, serve Him. You see, lazy people make bad servants. The Bible tells us to be busy working while there is still light, because night is coming. That means that until Christ returns, we need to be busy serving God so that His plan can be fulfilled.

Now I realize that many take a scriptural position that we really don't have to do anything because God is going to do it anyway. Others put the dependence on the actions of man for God's plan to unfold. I have always tried to see the blending of those extreme positions where it becomes the sovereignty of God working in conjunction with the activity of man. I know, these can be deep theological concepts which is why I try to concentrate on my responsibility and not get too caught up in the theological debates. As far as the issue of being lazy is concerned, the Bible clearly tells us in many passages that it is a sin to be lazy and nonproductive. That is why today I want to encourage you not to fall into this trap, and if it is an issue you battle, it is time to recognize it and battle to conquer laziness just like any other sin in our life.

I will be praying today that you take a few minutes to analyze your life and if laziness is something you fight, that God will give you the strength to become more active and productive in your daily life. It really is about having focus, having goals, and having projects to complete at all times. In other areas of your life, you have a lot going on, but often the sin of laziness the Bible is speaking of occurs in our service for God. We have a lot of energy to do other things, but in our service to God, we tend to slack off. My prayer is that you will be just as energetic in serving the Lord as you are in other areas of your life.

I love you and am praying for you. Make this an active productive day of service for the Lord. Make the year 2000 an active, productive year of service for God. He has blessings above and beyond anything you could ever imagine if you just follow Him, love Him, and serve Him each and every day. May this be a most blessed day.