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June 3, 2021 2:00 am
Though many think laziness is something trivial, the Bible itself addresses it as something substantial since many lives can be affected by it. In the message "The Lazy Life of the Couch Potato," Skip explains how to counteract laziness.
This teaching is from the series White Collar Sins.
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Here's the key person wanted to see not lagging and diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord and then rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation vastly as in Romans 12 is take the negatives presented in the book of Proverbs was a contrast and the negative. A lazy person is like the sun like that sluggard in Proverbs. Now he turns it into the positive of not liking and diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Many people struggle with laziness. The top just to get up and get going every day today on connect with Skip Heitzig Skip share some encouragement from Scripture on what it takes to overcome laziness and embrace everything God is calling you to do in your life and stay tuned afterwards as Skip and his wife like to share practical insight to help you avoid falling into a habit of laziness, you can break down a big thing into lot and so when you're making your list.
It may be content, like that's never going to happen. Clean the garage directly knotting me break it down into little other aspects like eating an elephant one bite at Skip and Linda, be sure to stay with us after today's message to the full description right now we want to tell you about a resource that will help you grow even stronger in your knowledge of God's word holidays and special days of celebration wake us up from the daily grind and provide a backdrop for creating memories beyond traditions time off and intentional family time, holidays can illuminate spiritual truth as we hear from Skip I think you may not know that Valentine's Day has Christian roots, but time and secular culture have transformed what was a great celebration of those with stay true to the Christian faith is turned into simply a celebration of romantic love.
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Proverbs chapter 6 chapter 12 this poem I found it says I've gone for a drink and sharpen my pencil search through my desk for forgotten utensils.
I reset my watch.
I adjusted my chair. I loosen my tie and straighten my hair.
I filled my pan and tested the blotter and gone for another drink of water. I've adjusted the calendar and raised up a blind I sorted the erasers of all different kinds now down to work.
I can finally sit ups too late.
It's time to quit. So here's a person, then that is distracted by so many little utterly useless things that the task at hand is never faced at the characteristic of a lazy person is the second characteristic, a lazy person won't finish what he started.
He starts his good intentions, but he never finishes Proverbs 24 you not to turn their you know this by now. We just read it.
Proverbs 24 Solomon he sees that field about lazy man had been plowed wall is broken down the vineyard lies in ruins, so that that man that man who owns that he started out with the right intentions problem, no follow-through man had good intentions but he never followed through. Now thorns have taken over another wall is collapsed. There's another example of this principle. Also in Proverbs Proverbs 1227. Listen to this one. The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting is pretty pathetic guy gets enough gumption to go out go hunting okay we give him a bow and arrow goes out there and he actually shoots the animal and brings it all the way home and he runs out of steam. I can cook it. He will roast it on. There's even a worse example, Proverbs 19 verse 24. Check this up a lazy man buries his hand in the bowl and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. So that's really bad that's like fatal. Can you picture the guys got the he's got the oatmeal in the bowl put the spoon in the bowl dessert. It sits there looking at it you come back an hour later, I can't be bothered actually pull this stuff out. I mean, I thought about it I actually poured the oatmeal in but I just started I'm done I don't know if you've ever had the experience guys of sharing a house or an apartment with other guys so you know picture house with three or four guys and I'm speaking from experience what is so difficult about taking the used toilet paper holder off the spindle and replacing it. I mean, in most modern houses you can perform that maneuver while seated sort of turn around and this do that.
Things that bother me that I'll never understand the imagery behind all of these verses that were reading this here's a person who could begin something, but he doesn't finish and the reason it is and finished he always has an excuse or reason to him. But it's really an excuse Billy Sunday to find an excuse as the skin of a reason stuffed with ally looking for excuses not finishing the task so lazy man went to the doctor for a complete physical examination and after the examination, the lazy man. Whatever the doctrine is very very listless that is slurring words a granddaughter is to give it to me straight. Be honest. Tell me what I have Dr. set up actually there's not a single thing wrong with you except you're just plain lazy and the man said after a pause. Okay, now tell that to me in medical terms so I can say that to my wife if I come up with a scientific sounding intelligent sounding excuse.
Maybe I don't have to do it so lazy person won't finish what he started. There's 1/3 a lazy person lives in unfulfilled life because one and two are true. The third is necessarily true because a lazy person will focus on the task and won't finish what he started a lazy person lives in unfulfilled life, both in Proverbs 6 and 24 in both places it says so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.
The result will be poverty, you'll still have desires, but you will be able to achieve those desires and is not just the poverty therefore laziness will leave him restless, unsatisfied, discouraged and frustrated. How do I know this. Proverbs 21 verse 25 says the desire of the lazy man kills him for his hands refuse to labor so his got those hands but is not to put them to work and therefore he has those desires, they never get fulfilled again.
Proverbs 13 verse for the soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing he's got appetites there unfulfilled. He has desires, but they are never satiated. So it's a very unfulfilling life to be driven by the love of ease and there is an antidote.
There's a fix for this and this brings us to our final characteristic to counteract laziness one needs a good healthy shot of dose of diligence that happens to be the opposite term used six times in the book of Proverbs, you will often find things like the lazy person is like this, but the diligent person is like that they are contrasted quite often. For example, Proverbs 1224 the hand of the diligent will rule. But the lazy man will be put to forced labor, diligence, how do we get that I would get that dose well I want you to turn in will and here in Romans 12, turn to Romans chapter 12 in your New Testament advantage turn to Romans 12 for a particular verse, and here's why. Beginning in Romans chapter 12 we begin. What is the application will section of the book of Romans is the practical part if you know anything about Paul. You know that he writes doctrine heavy at the beginning and practical heavy toward the end, so he gives pretty heavy theological weeds at the beginning. Salvation by grace through faith alone, not by works using Abraham and others as examples of that getting into the argumentation that people have about the law and the purpose of the law and the internal desires will have covering all that theology, then covering the theology of the Jews in relationship to God's new covenant then we come to chapter 12 very practical. It's that now that you know this.
Therefore do this and in his practicality. Paul talks about how to get along with your church to get along with your family what to do. Personally so he throws all of that together beginning in verse nine of Romans 12. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love and honor for giving preference to one another is the key person want you to see not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord and then rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. What Paul does in Romans 12 is take the negatives presented in the book of Proverbs turns them into a positive. What was a contrast and the negative of a lazy person is like this and like that sluggard in Proverbs.
Now he turns it into the positive of not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord listen to that verse, verse 11 in the new living translation.
Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. When you see somebody serving God enthusiastically, and its genuine enthusiasm is contagious. I don't mean a fake enthusiasm painted fire never warmed anyone but a genuine enthusiasm very similar to Ephesians chapter 6 repulses work with enthusiasm. Stop right there is more the verse but I want you to stop in and consider the pieces work with enthusiasm. A lazy person might say why should I work with enthusiasm. You're speaking to and actively disengaged workers. I'm the guy who goes to work.
Elects the paycheck but I'm actively disengaged in my work yet.
Paul says work with enthusiasm.
How do you do that now will finish the verse work with enthusiasm as though you were working for the Lord rather than people on other changes everything. So when he says not lagging diligence, fervent in spirit, it actually means enthusiasm to the boiling point. That's what's fervent in spirit means you could even translate it ran hot red hot enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm to the boiling point that's impossible. If you're actively disengaged in your work that's impossible, unless you do it as though you're serving the Lord and not people.
If you seizes see this as I'm doing this as true, as unto the Lord. It's possible every thing in life changes when you bring God into the picture.
No matter what picture it is no matter what point you bring God into the picture. What you bring God in the picture, everything changes because now it's not well I go to work and collect a paycheck. It's I'm doing this for God I'm serving the Lord. It's more than well I'm part of a company and I get retirement benefits.
It's I'm doing this, as unto the Lord. I'm serving the Lord.
Did you know according to one study, workers in America admit to spending 25% of their time at work goofing off. Who does the studies I do know who would honestly give that information if it's anonymous I guess I understand answer like Facebook, you know, keyboard courage and say anything when you're not sanded face-to-face, but according to a study American workers admit to spending 20% of their time at work goofing up that one day a week and that includes things like personal errands, social media, so an employee died and went to heaven. And as he went to heaven course there's Peter, he shows up in all these lame stories and I he's at the gates with the clipboard so the guy sees Peter and he says there's been a mistake. I shouldn't be here. I'm only 35 years old. First of all, why would anybody take umbrage to being in heaven, but I overthink these things so is in heaven meets Peter and he says there's been a mistake. I shouldn't be here. I still should be on earth.
I only 35 and Peter goes, that's interesting. So he looks back at the records checks them and he says will, according to the hourly work reports that you've been turning in your 97 years old.
So how old you are, and how old you been reporting how much time you've been reporting are two different things.
And the point is this your earthly work my earthly work should reflect we serve a master in heaven.
The Lord of heaven and earth, because our earthly works reflects how we serve them. Have you ever heard of a violin called the Stradivarius you've heard of that right, everybody ends with like the most famous if you think violins you think Stradivarius. Usually that comes up in the conversation so these are expensive there are 29 9095. Either one soul from million dollars.
Another one so for 4 million to them. So for 10,000,001 that I found a lot of want seller to say value that is its own by a museum or institution one is sold not too long ago and is being played by musician for $16 million.
One little instrument $16 million and I don't think the musician bought that I've never met a musician who could buy a $16 million anything but she's playing this.
The question that I think everyone has is why thank you, why what what makes that worth 16 million and that they were 2995 Wilson Stradivarius so what makes it so expensive. Here's what first of all there's a couple of hundred number wonders just a few of them left in the world. Most of heaven survives of supply and demand you only got a few but number two Antonia Stradivarius the maker back in the 1600s used. They say kind of wood, dance, composite wood or kind of wood that the weight was caught and curved and braced put together the combination of the craftsmanship and the wood creates this acoustic resonance that is second to none. The best going $16 million. But here's the back story. Antonia Stradivarius believed that every violin that leaves his shop be near perfect as humanly possible because he said God needs violins to send his music into the world and if it's defective. God's music will be spoiled. How's that for a work ethic. You know you could say and I'm just trying out the violins 2995 got glue and it's got wood and it good enough difference between the guy who does that in the guises. This is God's music. I'm doing this for God so then you're not just pushing papers or pushing papers for God are not to see in patients are seeing patients for God, your you're not just running that Internet business because you're doing that you're doing it because you're serving the Lord and that trap translates into not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Now I'm sure that this is not your issue. I'm sure that I'm not talking to a group of couch potatoes, sophists, birds, but godly achievers that you have diligent lives and why is that all important is important not just for fulfillment.
Now it is important even for your future because although we are saved by grace through faith, not of ourselves, not by our own works. I hope you also know that you and I will one day be evaluated by the work that we do.
From the moment we are saved by grace to we get them a comes as a shock to some people it shouldn't. You're saved not by your works by grace but once are saved by grace.
What is done and produced for the glory of God will be evaluated. We will be evaluated by God. The judgment seat of Christ.
First Corinthians chapter 3 it says that there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work. Each builder has done.
He writes to believers. Everyone's work will be put to the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value.
If the worker survives the fire that builder will receive a reward, but if the work is burned up. The builder will suffer great loss the builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames so there's a couple ways you can get to heaven or to get to heaven with the welcoming committee and applause and a red carpet we been waiting for you in some of you might get to heaven is like flu saved by grace but got nothing to show. After that, I'm just hoping that we have more to give to Christ than just our subscription to Hulu or Netflix or seashell collection but there we are not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit as we are serving the conclusion Isaacs message from the series white colors you Skip them as they share practical insight to help you avoid falling into a habit of laziness. Many people start off with Lacey Can even be bothered to do you have to Lacey don't even find the word especially in today's culture of entitlement and we like instant gratification and Skip some practical tips would you recommend for breaking the habit of laziness, nose reading just this morning in Romans 12 and is reading it in the new living translation.
I just wanted to switch it up and it says never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically okay and you know why I was raising a family of hard-working parents. You know my dad or my mom very very hard worker's unilateral Protestant work ethic, and since then I've learned to look at work as more than work. I enjoy what I do, but also when I don't to render it as unto the Lord. The Bible says you nose like Loretta like doing this but I'm doing this is an act of service to you. I'm doing it on to you. So that's one tip you know you want to sorta begin their but then I'll take some else find a productive friend, that's another little tip that I would give you a Skip tip find a productive friend find a hard-working friend who is able to get a lot of things done in a short amount of time. Watch what they do. You know, get secrets from them.
My dad used to say, if you want to do anything find somebody who does a better than you do. Like if you want to play golf better, don't get somebody worse you feel good about your game get somebody better who actually teach you to improve so I found that to be helpful when it comes to work and laziness. Another thing I I use a list I keep a list. I'm not like Santa who makes a list and checks it twice but I do keep a list and though I have a list. I'm flexible with vinyl get all done so up if I get a few things knocked off great. I want to be realistic really tear.
He has a list to keep it on your cell phone. That's right. That must mean that notes yeah if you and so you do not do it and I love that you do lesson I was gonna recommend that as well. If you need to get something down you can break down a big thing into lots of little things that's good.
And so when you're making your list. It may be daunting like you know that's never going to happen. Clean the garage hierarchy, not a mean, but if you break it down into little other aspects like eating an elephant one bite at a time. Here's another quick tip avoid time wasters.
You know whether it's a cell phone and you're looking at picture after picture, and it was on and on and on. Stick or vegging out watching television. There's a lot of things you can steal your time, and time can go very very rapidly so distorted. Keep a check on that. But don't be lazy, but don't be so hard on yourself eternally given my nap.
You enjoy getting to know Skip in line after this conversation now to help keep these teachings coming your way as you connect more listeners like unicast where here's how difficult hundred 92, 1919 to connectwithskip.com/donate.com/donate to tune in tomorrow is Skip examines assume this incredibly destructive social undetected Skip presentation of connection communications through ever-changing time