Spiritual Laziness
Bro. Ralph Hale
When I was a boy part of my teaching was to be a good worker. Do not be lazy. Lazy people were frowned upon in those days. It seems to be somewhat different today. Instead of hard work and a sense of accomplishment, we seem to have people that want more but want to do less to have it.
There appears to be this same kind of attitude among many believers. One of the major differences between Christianity and other religions of the world is that they are all works oriented and Christianity leans more on the grace of our God. They say the more you work the more you earn, we say salvation comes as a free gift and cannot be earned. I am glad today that I do not have to try and earn my salvation but there are rewards promised for diligent service in the kingdom of God.
Many Christian believers however do not progress spiritually as they should. Our desire is supposed to be that we become more and more like Jesus fulfilling the will of God for our lives. Many however believe this will be done all by God with no effort on our part. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent take it by force. (Matt. 11:12) Violence here means to have a continual aggressive action. This is in essence what faith is. When twelve years old, Jesus said, He must be about His Father's business. Paul, when writing to the Romans said we are not to be slothful (lazy) in business, but be fervent (have continual, aggressive action) in spirit serving the Lord. (Romans 12:11)
To be lazy physically is contrary to scripture and is no doubt sin. To be lazy spiritually must be a greater sin. We may be commended and even honored by what we accomplish naturally, but, what we accomplish spiritually is all that really matters.
When we look at the ant as we are admonished in Proverbs 6:6-1 we learn the benefits of being diligent to lay up in good times what we will need in harder times. We also see that laziness or refusal to do so will cast us into spiritual sleep. (See Pr. 24:30-34, 20:23, 19:1)
If we are spiritually lazy and do not prepare ourselves by seeking from God the treasures of the kingdom, we will find deception will become a big part of our lives.
God's instruction to Adam was to exercise restraint on the one hand but use continual, aggressive action on the other. Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil but eat of the tree of life all you want. (Gen. 2:15-17)
Sampson went to sleep on Delilah's knees, but he was spiritually asleep long before. He was not where he was supposed to be doing what he was supposed to be doing. He exercised no restraint and had no continual, aggressive action in the things of God.
The church of Ephesus was spiritually asleep when Paul called them to wake up. (Eph. 5:14) Obviously, they didn't for they had left their first love in Revelation 2: 1-7
Maybe you are feeling somewhat dead spiritually. Coming to life again begins by hearing God's call to wake up. Then remember that there is much treasure laid up for you in the kingdom of God. You however are required to be hungry and thirsty for it. Seek the pearl of great price! Listen to the Word of God for you today! My son, attend to my words, incline thine ear unto my sayings, let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh. (Proverbs 2:20-22) So start your search!
Treasures are waiting!
Bro. Ralph Hale
When I was a boy part of my teaching was to be a good worker. Do not be lazy. Lazy people were frowned upon in those days. It seems to be somewhat different today. Instead of hard work and a sense of accomplishment, we seem to have people that want more but want to do less to have it.
There appears to be this same kind of attitude among many believers. One of the major differences between Christianity and other religions of the world is that they are all works oriented and Christianity leans more on the grace of our God. They say the more you work the more you earn, we say salvation comes as a free gift and cannot be earned. I am glad today that I do not have to try and earn my salvation but there are rewards promised for diligent service in the kingdom of God.
Many Christian believers however do not progress spiritually as they should. Our desire is supposed to be that we become more and more like Jesus fulfilling the will of God for our lives. Many however believe this will be done all by God with no effort on our part. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent take it by force. (Matt. 11:12) Violence here means to have a continual aggressive action. This is in essence what faith is. When twelve years old, Jesus said, He must be about His Father's business. Paul, when writing to the Romans said we are not to be slothful (lazy) in business, but be fervent (have continual, aggressive action) in spirit serving the Lord. (Romans 12:11)
To be lazy physically is contrary to scripture and is no doubt sin. To be lazy spiritually must be a greater sin. We may be commended and even honored by what we accomplish naturally, but, what we accomplish spiritually is all that really matters.
When we look at the ant as we are admonished in Proverbs 6:6-1 we learn the benefits of being diligent to lay up in good times what we will need in harder times. We also see that laziness or refusal to do so will cast us into spiritual sleep. (See Pr. 24:30-34, 20:23, 19:1)
If we are spiritually lazy and do not prepare ourselves by seeking from God the treasures of the kingdom, we will find deception will become a big part of our lives.
God's instruction to Adam was to exercise restraint on the one hand but use continual, aggressive action on the other. Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil but eat of the tree of life all you want. (Gen. 2:15-17)
Sampson went to sleep on Delilah's knees, but he was spiritually asleep long before. He was not where he was supposed to be doing what he was supposed to be doing. He exercised no restraint and had no continual, aggressive action in the things of God.
The church of Ephesus was spiritually asleep when Paul called them to wake up. (Eph. 5:14) Obviously, they didn't for they had left their first love in Revelation 2: 1-7
Maybe you are feeling somewhat dead spiritually. Coming to life again begins by hearing God's call to wake up. Then remember that there is much treasure laid up for you in the kingdom of God. You however are required to be hungry and thirsty for it. Seek the pearl of great price! Listen to the Word of God for you today! My son, attend to my words, incline thine ear unto my sayings, let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh. (Proverbs 2:20-22) So start your search!
Treasures are waiting!