Laziness

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Laziness
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Parable of the Talents

• Matthew 2514-30
• 14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man
  traveling to a far country, who called his own
  servants and delivered his goods to them.
• 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another
  two, and to another one, to each according to his
  own ability and immediately he went on a
  journey.
• 16 Then he who had received the five talents went
  and traded with them, and made another five
  talents.
• 17 And likewise he who had received two gained
  two more also.
• 18 But he who had received one went and dug in
  the ground, and hid his lord's money.
• 19 After a long time the lord of those servants
  came and settled accounts with them.
• 20 "So he who had received five talents came and
  brought five other talents, saying, "Lord, you
  delivered to me five talents look, I have gained
  five more talents besides them.'
• 21 His lord said to him, "Well done, good and
  faithful servant you were faithful over a few
  things, I will make you ruler over many things.
  Enter into the joy of your lord.'

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Parable of the Talents

• 22 He also who had received two talents came and
  said, "Lord, you delivered to me two talents
  look, I have gained two more talents besides
  them.'
• 23 His lord said to him, "Well done, good and
  faithful servant you have been faithful over a
  few things, I will make you ruler over many
  things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
• 24 "Then he who had received the one talent came
  and said, "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man,
  reaping where you have not sown, and gathering
  where you have not scattered seed.
• 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent
  in the ground. Look, there you have what is
  yours.'
• 26 "But his lord answered and said to him, "You
  wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap
  where I have not sown, and gather where I have
  not scattered seed.
• 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with
  the bankers, and at my coming I would have
  received back my own with interest.
• 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to
  him who has ten talents.
• 29 "For to everyone who has, more will be given,
  and he will have abundance but from him who does
  not have, even what he has will be taken away.
• 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the
  outer darkness. There will be weeping and
  gnashing of teeth.'

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Definition

• averse or disinclined to work, activity, or
  exertion indolent.
• causing idleness or indolence a hot, lazy
  afternoon.
• slow-moving sluggish a lazy stream.

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Characteristics of the Lazy Person
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1) Hates work

• Proverbs 2125 - The desire of the lazy man kills
  him, For his hands refuse to labor.
• Tries to run away from work
• Always focuses on the minimum that needs to be
  done to accomplish a task
• Procrastinates to the last minute
• Poor quality work

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1) Hates work

• Does not feel responsible to share in the work
  instead relies on others
• 2 Thessalonians 311-12 - For we hear that there
  are some who walk among you in a disorderly
  manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
  Now those who are such we command and exhort
  through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in
  quietness and eat their own bread.
• School group project example

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2) Loves sleep

• Proverbs 2614 - As a door turns on its hinges,
  So does the lazy man on his bed.
• Frequent naps long hours of sleep
• If we live to be 70 and sleep 8 hours a day, we
  will have slept 23 years
• Each extra hour we sleep per day is 3 years of
  our life. What could we be doing with this time?

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2) Loves sleep

• Sacrificing important activities for the sake of
  sleep (example Church attendance)
• Gets tired easily
• Refuses service because overly values rest
• Ascetic practices actually produce more energy
• Getting out of bed might be the hardest moment of
  our day, but immediately after we do we start to
  awaken and become refreshed
• When we work when tired, our bodies tend to renew
  their strength

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3) Makes excuses

• Proverbs 2613 - The lazy man says, "There is a
  lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the
  streets!"
• Excuses we make to others to justify ourselves
  to others
• I forgot
• I didnt have time
• Im too busy
• It wasnt necessary
• Excuses we make to ourselves to make us feel
  good about ourselves
• What excuses do we make to avoid spiritual
  activities, serving, chores, or helping others?

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4) Wastes time energy

• Proverbs 189 - He who is slothful in his work is
  a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
• Our laziness destroys the single most important
  resource we have our time
• Our time on earth is very limited
• We will be judged on how we used our time
  Parable of the talents
• 1 Peter 117 - And if you call on the Father, who
  without partiality judges according to each ones
  work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of
  your stay here in fear
• Sleep diminishes our passion
• What do we spend most of our time doing?

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5) Thinks he is wise

• Proverbs 2616 - The lazy man is wiser in his own
  eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly.
• Thinks he is smart for finding a way to get out
  of work
• Thinks he is in control of his time, but actually
  he is a slave to his desire for rest
• Sees those that toil in the service or in work as
  fools always wants to take easy road
• Desires the easiest career that requires the
  least work
• Winning lottery would be considered the ultimate
  success
• Proverbs 66 - Go to the ant, you sluggard!
  Consider her ways and be wise

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Consequences of Laziness
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1) Becomes a servant

• Proverbs 1224 - The hand of the diligent will
  rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced
  labor.
• If we cannot rule ourselves, then someone will
  rule us
• The diligent hard-working man will be a ruler and
  a manager of others
• The lazy man will be made to work against his
  will to repay his debts
• The hard working man enjoys his work (no matter
  what it is), and feels that he is successful
  after a hard days work he is content
• The lazy man enjoys rest, despises work, and
  feels frustrated if he is required to work hard
  he is not content

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2) Comes to poverty

• Proverbs 204 - The lazy man will not plow
  because of winter He will beg during harvest and
  have nothing.
• Example of Education
• If we are not serious and diligent in our studies
  now, planning ahead for our futures, then we will
  reap what we have sown in the form of a
  unfulfilling career and regret at our missed
  opportunities
• The lazy man is not able to provide for himself
  or his family, not because he did not have
  opportunities, but because he wasted them
• Proverbs 134 - The soul of a lazy man desires,
  and has nothing But the soul of the diligent
  shall be made rich.

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3) A destroyed house

• Proverbs 2430-34 - I went by the field of the
  lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man devoid
  of understanding And there it was, all overgrown
  with thorns Its surface was covered with
  nettles Its stone wall was broken down. When I
  saw it, I considered it well I looked on it and
  received instruction A little sleep, a little
  slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest
  So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And
  your need like an armed man.
• The lazy man cannot maintain his house
• Homes and families can be destroyed

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3) A destroyed house

• Our families and relationships need constant
  attention, maintenance, pruning, and building
• If we are lazy in our obligations, these
  relationships will gradually fade and be broken
• Examples Spending time together as a family, or
  serving a friend

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4) Poor self image

• While the lazy man might feel that he is more
  clever than the rest for getting out of work,
  deep down he feels badly about himself
• Work brings with it a sense of dignity and
  responsibility
• While we think laziness brings comfort and rest
  it also brings discontent and feeling of
  inadequacy and poor self image.
• When a lazy man compares himself to an
  industrious one, what can he say about himself?
• How do the spiritually lazy see the spiritually
  active?
• How do they see themselves?

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5) Leads to sin

• Idle hands are the devils workshop
• If we remain idle, not working or keeping
  ourselves busy with useful activities, we easily
  fall into sin
• Idle behavior includes excessive TV watching and
  Internet use

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6) Will be disciplined

• 2 Thessalonians 310 - For even when we were with
  you, we commanded you this If anyone will not
  work, neither shall he eat.
• There are physical consequences to laziness.
• Poor performance
• Low grades
• Bad performance review at work

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Laziness in the spiritual life

• Prayer life
• Reading the Word of God
• Service
• Church attendance
• Bible Studies and Sunday School
• Amidst obstacles

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Sts. Maximous and Domatius

• Princes that chose the monastic life
• They enjoyed all luxury in the palace but chose
  to forsake it for Christs sake
• When they arrived in the desert, they were tested
  by being asked to carve their own cells from the
  rock
• They happily did so
• Compare to our spiritual struggle

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Conclusion

• Galatians 69 - And let us not grow weary while
  doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we
  do not lose heart.