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A Little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest…

Proverbs 24:33-34

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.

Laziness is defined as; unwilling to work or use energy characterised by lack of effort or activity.

Showing lack of care, disinclined to work or exertion (physical or mental effort).

Encouraging inactivity or indolence.

I learnt something new about myself today. I’m actually quite lazy (even writing this post was a struggle).

I cannot remember what we were talking about but a young man from fellowship pointed it out.

He said ‘you sound lazy’ and I thought to myself ‘wow, here’s someone that doesn’t know me too well saying that i’m lazy.’

I couldn’t even think of an excuse so reluctantly I said ‘yeah, I am’ because deep down I knew it was the truth.

I decided to do my research as soon as I got home and I noticed the synonym ‘indolence/indolent’ and I felt like I could identify with this the most. It means causing little or no pain . 

I don’t know if it’s just me or does our whole generation simply seek a life of pleasure and no pain. Coincidentally I watched the trailer for the movie of one of my favourite books The Shack by Paul Young where the main character was talking to the Holy Spirit who said to him ‘You want a promise of a pain-free life’ in which he responded quite defiantly if I may add ‘Yes I do’ in which she responded ‘There isn’t one.’

This shows me that within us human beings there is the notion that life on earth should be painless but the reality is that it isn’t. However, I am a true believer that you must decide to choose what is worth suffering for but that is a conversation for another day.

Back to Laziness, I confess laziness is a sin that I am guilty of and I’m sure I’m not the only person. I like the easy way out. The word ‘Indolence’ actually suggests a love of ease and a dislike of movement or activity. Yes like I said I can so relate. I love laying in bed for hours, watching a film. I like it, it’s comfortable. 

Ask me to rise early in the morning to pray and I’ll try but honestly I’m just lazy to the point where I’ll say something like ‘I don’t think it’s for me.’ I’m guilty of that.

However, something the brother said to me about laziness making people poor really struck a nerve. I’ve heard that scripture but didn’t really deep it. I laughed and said ‘maybe that’s why I’m poor.’

I had never thought of myself as a Lazy person, compared to people around me I think I’m extremely active. But perhaps it’s just pride that has blinded me. I thought that all lay people were severely obese. I know i’m wrong but that’s what I thought. I work out 3 times a week, so I can’t possibly be lazy right? I’m always out and about. I read in my spare time whilst working two part time jobs. These aren’t signs of a lazy person. I’m always ‘busy’ but when I actually began to analyse my attitude to these activities, I sometimes do these things in a very lazy undisciplined manner.

My attitude is sometimes ‘showing lack of care’ and sometimes ‘characterised by lack of effort.’ If not all the time.

I’m glad that I learned this about myself because I now know what I need to change.

I’ll end with scripture.

Proverbs 28:13

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

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