Lazy

Proverbs 10:26
As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.


We've all experienced it, a situation, or better put, a "learning" experience. I have never heard that vinegar is bad for the teeth. I knew that smoke was not good for the eyes. I also knew that when someone is counting on me to do something, I better do it diligently, not lazily. Especially when it comes to God.

Lazy is a term, word and action that I am becoming better familiar with these days. See, my husband and I work with Middle School students. We also parent (disciple) an 11 year old girl. These same kids at one time or another had ambition, a drive, motivation. Our daughter once was a willing participant in daily activities. I know there are times I'd like to drive her straight to the Neurosurgeon and get her brain back, but after a little studying, I have learned that it is just part of their development (praise God).

I have asked my child to do something simple (send her) and she'll come back in 10 minutes instead of 5 and have done what I asked halfway or not at all. Now, there are times when she is motivated and she'll get it done right away, but most of the time, she's just lazy. We don't have any television or media that takes her away, she just gets caught up in daydreaming and takes her own time. Frustrating most of the time.

Are we like that at times? Is it possible that we lazily go about our lives, our walk with God? Have we asked for a sign or a blessing and not yet moved on it? Are there things in our lives that we are complaining about that we have some control over. Could we plan out our schedules better so that we get the things done that we are counted on to get done?

I struggle with finding balance in everything. When I get overwhelmed, it paralyzes me to the point that I literally find it hard to move, to do anything. In this verse, it talks about the result of a lazy man to those who send him.

Do you know someone who has potential to do far greater than they are today. Could their lives be so overwhelmed that they are frozen, paralyzed? Offer to help them get organized, watch their kids so they can get a work day in, or just offer to pray for them.

Do you feel overwhelmed, paralyzed, with your daily tasks? Are you lacking motivation? Write a list of the 3 most important things you need to do today and get them done. When you are done, you will feel better for accomplishing 3 things instead of not accomplishing anything at all. Be realistic, challenge yourself to get things done, but don't overwhelm yourself with lists that are not realistic. Go outside, take a short walk, breathe some fresh air, sometimes we need to clear our heads and get away from the chaos to be able to focus better. Last, be sure you are taking care of yourself. Get to bed early enough so that you get a full 8 hours of sleep (or at least try) and make sure that you are eating a big breakfast so you have energy, strength, and brain power to get through the day.

Do you have someone in your life who takes things a bit (too) slow, does things halfway, or has no motivation whatsoever? If they are teens, cut them a bit of slack, remember their brains are still developing (I have a great article if you'd like a copy, hcollver@msn.com) set limits that are reachable for them, give them motivation. Whether it is a teen or not, you should first pray for them, for you and for the situations they tend to be lazy. Talk to them about what you see (not what you are feeling) and offer some help or motivation to get them back on track. Set boundaries when you "send" them off to do something with limits and expectations.

Last, do you know a lazy Christian? Someone who doesn't spend time in the word, who takes what they want from the Bible and leaves the rest for someone else? Read this passage below, pray for that person and be willing to encourage them to a new level of relationship with God.

Titus 1:10-16
10For there are many disorderly and unruly men who are idle (vain, empty) and misleading talkers and self-deceivers and deceivers of others. [This is true] especially of those of the circumcision party [who have come over from Judaism].
11Their mouths must be stopped, for they are mentally distressing and subverting whole families by teaching what they ought not to teach, for the purpose of getting base advantage and disreputable gain.
12One of their [very] number, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, hurtful beasts, idle and lazy gluttons.
13And this account of them is [really] true. Because it is [true], rebuke them sharply [deal sternly, even severely with them], so that they may be sound in the faith and free from error,
14[And may show their soundness by] ceasing to give attention to Jewish myths and fables or to rules [laid down] by [mere] men who reject and turn their backs on the Truth.
15To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted.
16They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and disobedient and disloyal and rebellious, and [they are] unfit and worthless for good work (deed or enterprise) of any kind.

Dear Lord, Thank you for your word today. Please make a place for it in our hearts so that our minds can apply it. May we be a blessing to others and never be idle, or lazy in anything we do. Thank you, Lord. Please join me in praying for Barbara this week. Thank you.