My grandmother used to say, “An idle mind is the devils’ workshop.” It is one of those ideas that has been handed down to each generation. I was so surprised to see how many Scriptures in the Bible relate to laziness, that I decided to put some in print for you. They don’t need any comment from me.
“Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hand, the house lacks.” Ecclesiastes 10:18. “He who has a slack hand becomes poor. But the hand of the diligent makes rich.” He who gathers in summer is a wise son. He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.” Proverbs 10:4, 5. “The hand of the diligent will rule. But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.” Proverbs 12:24.
Proverbs 19:15
“Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.”
Practical Application and Assignments:
Laziness is inexcusable and will make your life miserable. I can almost hear my grandpa in Mississippi saying, “Brace up! Pull yourself up by the bootstraps, boy!” My grandmother from Kansas would say, “Snap out of it! Get busy!” We didn’t get a lot of sympathy for laziness. It doesn’t appear that God is giving out any, either. Laziness stops the blessing and favor of God.
- “Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider its ways and be wise: which having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides its supplies in the summer, and gathers its food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, oh sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?” Proverbs 6:6-9. If an ant can take care of itself, what excuse do you have to offer?
- Look up the following Scriptures and notice the contrast between the women in Proverbs 31:27-28 and Ezekiel 16:49. Laziness and diligence are both choices.
“The soul of a lazy man desires and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” Proverbs 13:4
