The Danger of Laziness

[grace07]

The Danger of Laziness


2 Thessalonians 3:7-10
3:7
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow R88 F38 our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,
3:8
nor did we eat R89 anyone's F39 bread without F40 paying for it, but with labor R90 and hardship we kept working R91 night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;
3:9
not because we do not have the R92 right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
3:10
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either


The Lord has appointed believers to be His ambassadors to a lost and hurting world. As His followers, we are to represent Him in our character, conduct, and conversation whenever we interact with family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers.

God expects us to be diligent in our work and faithful to complete it. However, in our self-absorbed, pleasure-seeking culture, it is very easy to get sidetracked into laziness. This sin is dangerous in a Christian's life because of the potential harm that can result--it can hurt our witness for Christ, damage our relationships with others, and waste both the time and the gifts the Lord has given us. One negative result of such a lifestyle is a character marked as unreliable and untrustworthy.

Laziness frequently shows up as procrastination. For example, despite saying that we will take action, we repeatedly delay the start time. Or we may begin a project and yet find reasons not to finish it. Being neglectful is another manifestation: though we make an attempt to carry out responsibilities, they are handled in a haphazard or incomplete way; relationships with loved ones go untended; or the needs of others are overlooked.
Irresponsible behavior doesn't fit who we are in Christ. If you realize you've been careless in some area of your life, pray, "Lord, I have not lived as I should, and I ask You to forgive me. I choose to turn away from lazy attitudes and neglectful behavior. Please help me to follow through and become someone who is industrious for You."-Dr. Charles Stanley-

 

[natty threads]

Excellent post.
I couldn't agree more.

I know that as Christians most posters here believe that they not only are not under the Law but also that they should not attempt to follow an y of the Law (which is silly, because we follow most of the Law every single day without even thinking about it) BUT

Let me say this-

I started practicing a Saturday sabbath and it is changing my life with regards to laziness.

Since I am not supposed to work from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday (though it often doesn't work out perfectly) there is a serious think-down on Thursday and a whirlwind of cleaning Friday.

Anything I put off will stack up for Friday, making Friday overwhelming, and anything NOT done CANNOT be done Saturday, so that I have to live in the stack of dishes, unfolded laundry, unswept floor, along with my family, all day Saturday, distracted, when I am supposed to be reading the bible and dedicating to God.

I have to do all of my shopping, bill paying, driving, yard cleaning, planting, everything but cook, make the bed, and build the fire before Saturday.

(the kids still do stuff on Saturday, but Dad and Grandma handle Saturday driving already)

I do not impose this on the rest of my family, but part of the Sabbath is that you cannot require work from others either. That's cheating (obviously).

I do not claim that dedicating one day a week, the Sabbath, to God, is the cure for all laziness, but it certainly prevents procrastination, and around here that's the root of laziness.

Bless up!

 

[jiggyfly]

Excellent post.
I couldn't agree more.

I know that as Christians most posters here believe that they not only are not under the Law but also that they should not attempt to follow an y of the Law (which is silly, because we follow most of the Law every single day without even thinking about it) BUT

Let me say this-

I started practicing a Saturday sabbath and it is changing my life with regards to laziness.

Since I am not supposed to work from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday (though it often doesn't work out perfectly) there is a serious think-down on Thursday and a whirlwind of cleaning Friday.

Anything I put off will stack up for Friday, making Friday overwhelming, and anything NOT done CANNOT be done Saturday, so that I have to live in the stack of dishes, unfolded laundry, unswept floor, along with my family, all day Saturday, distracted, when I am supposed to be reading the bible and dedicating to God.

I have to do all of my shopping, bill paying, driving, yard cleaning, planting, everything but cook, make the bed, and build the fire before Saturday.

(the kids still do stuff on Saturday, but Dad and Grandma handle Saturday driving already)

I do not impose this on the rest of my family, but part of the Sabbath is that you cannot require work from others either. That's cheating (obviously).

I do not claim that dedicating one day a week, the Sabbath, to God, is the cure for all laziness, but it certainly prevents procrastination, and around here that's the root of laziness.

Bless up!

I am curious how you celebrate and keep the sabbath holy. Do your refrain from all work or just certain work? How do you think your method of sabbath keeping plays into the new covenant?

 

[natty threads]

I try to refrain from all work and dedicate the day to contemplation, discussion, and reading the bible.

Being a work in progress, this isn't how it always works.

I think that being washed in the Blood of the Lamb means that I am forgiven when I fall short.

Being that the Sabbath was made for man, why should I not accept God's gift?

What is the New Covenant as described by God?
Could you explain it to me in His terms?

Thank-you.

Bless up.

 

[jiggyfly]

I try to refrain from all work and dedicate the day to contemplation, discussion, and reading the bible.

Being a work in progress, this isn't how it always works.

I think that being washed in the Blood of the Lamb means that I am forgiven when I fall short.

Being that the Sabbath was made for man, why should I not accept God's gift?

What is the New Covenant as described by God?
Could you explain it to me in His terms?

Thank-you.

Bless up.

What is the New Covenant as described by God?
Could you explain it to me in His terms?

2Corinthians 3:4-18
4*We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5*It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. 6*He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life.
7*That old system of law etched in stone led to death, yet it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8*Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory when the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9*If the old covenant, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new covenant, which makes us right with God! 10*In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new covenant. 11*So if the old covenant, which has been set aside, was full of glory, then the new covenant, which remains forever, has far greater glory.12*Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13*We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away. 14*But the people’s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15*Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.
16*But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. 17*Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. 18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect* the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.


I think Paul sums it up pretty well here in 2Corinthians.

I try to refrain from all work and dedicate the day to contemplation, discussion, and reading the bible.

Did the priests in the old testament work on the sabbath? Do you contemplate, discuss and read the bible on any other days? If so, what differentiates the sabbath from the other days?

I think that being washed in the Blood of the Lamb means that I am forgiven when I fall short.

So do you consider it a sin when one fails to practice sabbath liturgy?

Being that the Sabbath was made for man, why should I not accept God's gift?

What does this mean to you? Do you believe that the sabbath was/is a shadow of Christ?

 

[SpiritLedEd]

The Danger Of Laziness.

"....doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?" (Lk 13:15)

In this quote, Jesus is scolding the Pharisees for demanding a strict legalism that they themselves could not follow. They couldn't keep it and God didn't expect them to keep it. Notice that Jesus does not tell them that taking care of animals they and their families depended upon on the Sabbath was wrong. He knew that such work was necessary every day. Only unnecessary work on the Sabbath was wrong under the Law. The Law was a God-prescribed way of life for the Jews but it was not/is not a path to salvation.

SLE

 

[natty threads]

The Law was a God-prescribed way of life for the Jews but it was not/is not a path to salvation.

SLE

The Law is the five Mosaic books and in some cases when Jesus says "The Law" He is referring to both the Law and the Prophets together.

Keeping sabbath and not eating pork and not having sex with animals or close relatives is the Covenant with Israel, most of which we keep on a daily basis without even thinking about it.

Keeping the Covenant was never meant to lead to salvation.
It was a SIGN that the Israelites AGREED to be God's people.

The Pharisees ADDED TO the Law.
THAT was the strict legalism that Jesus was objecting to.
Jesus NEVER said that the Law (meaning the Torah) was no longer valid.

And it was never said outside of misinterpretations of Paul that the Mosaic Covenant was impossible to keep.

Regard Luke 1:6 referring to Elizabeth and Zacharias, the parents of John the Baptist, "They were both righteous in the sight of God walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord."

Obviously if the Covenant were impossible to keep Zacharias and Elizabeth would not have been blameless in God's commandments and requirements. Walking in God's commandments does not automatically bring about salvation, but it does serve to demonstrate love and respect for God.

"For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1John 5:3).

"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments" (1 John 2:3).

"And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it"(2 John 6).

And then Jesus Himself:

He was asked, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Yahshua said unto him, "Thou shalt love Yahweh thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:36-40).

These commandments can be found respectively in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and in Leviticus 19:18. These are the two greatest commandments, and all of the rest of scripture hangs on them, and they are part of the Covenant with Israel.

And then finally:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).

Clearly following the commandments found in the Law AND the Prophets, IE, in what we call the Old Testament, is not a requirement of salvation, and teaching others to not follow the Commandments will not damn you, but it will make you least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Bless up!

 

[natty threads]

Jiggyfly, I appreciate that you don't want to answer my question, but I'll ask again anyway.

WHAT IS THE NEW COVENANT IN GOD'S WORDS?

Articulate that then we can discuss Paul.

Bless up.

 

[jiggyfly]

I think it's funny that you have said that the bible is God's word but you don't believe 2 Corinthians chapter 3 is God's word?

Suppose you tell me what the new covenant is in God's words.

 

[jiggyfly]

The Law is the five Mosaic books and in some cases when Jesus says "The Law" He is referring to both the Law and the Prophets together.

Keeping sabbath and not eating pork and not having sex with animals or close relatives is the Covenant with Israel, most of which we keep on a daily basis without even thinking about it.

Keeping the Covenant was never meant to lead to salvation.
It was a SIGN that the Israelites AGREED to be God's people.

The Pharisees ADDED TO the Law.
THAT was the strict legalism that Jesus was objecting to.
Jesus NEVER said that the Law (meaning the Torah) was no longer valid.

And it was never said outside of misinterpretations of Paul that the Mosaic Covenant was impossible to keep.

Regard Luke 1:6 referring to Elizabeth and Zacharias, the parents of John the Baptist, "They were both righteous in the sight of God walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord."

Obviously if the Covenant were impossible to keep Zacharias and Elizabeth would not have been blameless in God's commandments and requirements. Walking in God's commandments does not automatically bring about salvation, but it does serve to demonstrate love and respect for God.

"For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" (1John 5:3).

"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments" (1 John 2:3).

"And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it"(2 John 6).

And then Jesus Himself:

He was asked, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Yahshua said unto him, "Thou shalt love Yahweh thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:36-40).

These commandments can be found respectively in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and in Leviticus 19:18. These are the two greatest commandments, and all of the rest of scripture hangs on them, and they are part of the Covenant with Israel.

And then finally:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).

Clearly following the commandments found in the Law AND the Prophets, IE, in what we call the Old Testament, is not a requirement of salvation, and teaching others to not follow the Commandments will not damn you, but it will make you least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Bless up!

Do you believe that there are some who have denied Christ being the messiah and yet keep the commandments?

What do you consider salvation to mean?


Where in the scriptures does it say that teaching others to not follow the commandments will make you least in the kingdom of Heaven?

 

[natty threads]

Where in the scriptures does it say that teaching others to not follow the commandments will make you least in the kingdom of Heaven?

I posted the scripture and chapter and verse in my post you quoted.
Here's an idea: before you attack someone, read what they actually wrote.

I think it's funny that you have said that the bible is God's word but you don't believe 2 Corinthians chapter 3 is God's word?

I think you don't know what Paul's talking about.

Suppose you tell me what the new covenant is in God's words.

What I think the New Covenant is is irrelevant.
I asked you what God says it is.

I've already posted scripture to you regarding this on more than one thread and I've tried to not repeat scripture, so if you go back over what I've posted to you on various threads you will find it.

But here's a better idea- read the bible for yourself, not just the numbered soundbites that make you feel better.

Bless up.

 

[natty threads]

grace07, I am sorry that this thread got hijacked.

All I was really trying to do was share how God has been helping me to overcome my own laziness.

I think the hardest thing for me has been televison.
I didn't have TV for years for the very reason that it sucks us in, makes us immobile, and even lowers our metabolism dramatically.

But my husband loves his TV.

Ah well.

Always a continuing struggle not being dragged into the world and away from God.

Bless up, grace07, and again, I apologize for your thread being hijacked.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

The Pharisees ADDED TO the Law.
THAT was the strict legalism that Jesus was objecting to.
Jesus NEVER said that the Law (meaning the Torah) was no longer valid.

If you re-read the line you cited from my post, you'll find that we are in agreement. Jesus was bawling the Pharisees out for their legalism regarding the rules they added to the Law. My post does not say or infer that the Law was no longer valid. Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not to abolish it (see Mt 5:17).

SLE

 

[Coconut]

Clearly following the commandments found in the Law AND the Prophets, IE, in what we call the Old Testament, is not a requirement of salvation, and teaching others to not follow the Commandments will not damn you, but it will make you least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

But here's a better idea- read the bible for yourself, not just the numbered soundbites that make you feel better.

natty I call what you have been preaching here bad news. (the Law)

Secondly, I call coming into a fellowship and telling an elder to 'read the Bible' a bad attitude. You need to check your spirit.

This is Talk Jesus, not talk Judaism. If the latter is all you know, you are welcome to stay and learn, there are anointed teachers here who can teach you about the way of Christ, jiggyfly being one of them.
If you are not interested, and only want to contend for the Law, then you are in the wrong place.

 

[MiccyinFl]

The Danger of Laziness


2 Thessalonians 3:7-10
3:7
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow R88 F38 our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,
3:8
nor did we eat R89 anyone's F39 bread without F40 paying for it, but with labor R90 and hardship we kept working R91 night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;
3:9
not because we do not have the R92 right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
3:10
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either


The Lord has appointed believers to be His ambassadors to a lost and hurting world. As His followers, we are to represent Him in our character, conduct, and conversation whenever we interact with family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers.

God expects us to be diligent in our work and faithful to complete it. However, in our self-absorbed, pleasure-seeking culture, it is very easy to get sidetracked into laziness. This sin is dangerous in a Christian's life because of the potential harm that can result--it can hurt our witness for Christ, damage our relationships with others, and waste both the time and the gifts the Lord has given us. One negative result of such a lifestyle is a character marked as unreliable and untrustworthy.

Laziness frequently shows up as procrastination. For example, despite saying that we will take action, we repeatedly delay the start time. Or we may begin a project and yet find reasons not to finish it. Being neglectful is another manifestation: though we make an attempt to carry out responsibilities, they are handled in a haphazard or incomplete way; relationships with loved ones go untended; or the needs of others are overlooked.
Irresponsible behavior doesn't fit who we are in Christ. If you realize you've been careless in some area of your life, pray, "Lord, I have not lived as I should, and I ask You to forgive me. I choose to turn away from lazy attitudes and neglectful behavior. Please help me to follow through and become someone who is industrious for You."-Dr. Charles Stanley-

I tend to fall in this catagory at times , though it often falls under avoidance for me . I get wrapped up in depression and get distracted from the Lord . I will not go to work or put off doing something i know needs to be done , because i do not wish to face others in the state i am in at the time . Or i will doing things halfway as you stated . Lord I ask that you help me to overcome these things in my life .
Thank you for this post .

Bless you all
Miccy

 

[natty threads]

If you re-read the line you cited from my post, you'll find that we are in agreement. Jesus was bawling the Pharisees out for their legalism regarding the rules they added to the Law. My post does not say or infer that the Law was no longer valid. Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not to abolish it (see Mt 5:17).

SLE

Dear SpiritLedEd,
Yes, we agree.

I am truly blessed.
Thank-you.

 

[natty threads]

Coconut, I didn't say it- Jesus did.

How do you know who my elder is?
My elders read their bibles thoroughly, thank-you very much, and do not ask "Where does it say this, that those who teach not to follow the Law are least in the Kingdom of Heaven" because they already know, having read and marked it many many times.

Perhaps I am your elder- how do you know that I am not?

It is NEVER wrong to tell someone to read their bible.

That's as anti-Jesus as you can get, reprimanding someone for admonishing another to read their bible.

You call the Law- IE the Torah- bad news, you are denying Christ.

I pray for you.

Bless up.

 

[natty threads]

I tend to fall in this catagory at times , though it often falls under avoidance for me . I get wrapped up in depression and get distracted from the Lord . I will not go to work or put off doing something i know needs to be done , because i do not wish to face others in the state i am in at the time . Or i will doing things halfway as you stated . Lord I ask that you help me to overcome these things in my life .
Thank you for this post .

Bless you all
Miccy

Miccy, I will makes a list and then make myself do one thing from the list a day. I can do more, that's great, or if I miss one thing, that's okay- I do NOT have to make it up the next day- that way things do not stack up on me.

Sometimes we need to do things halfway, as wrong as it is, because it is better than doing nothing at all.

For instance, it is better to scrub one week-old crusty pan than to do no dishes at all, and it is better to do the dishes and leave the pan for another week than to not do any dishes.

Sometimes to get my kids motivated we'll talk about "What if Jesus comes tonight- do we want Him to see our house in this state?"

That always lights a fire!

I am praying that you will be helped overcoming your procrastination and fear (not exactly the right word- but I sure know what you mean) of the world.

I also break down the work into chunks I can handle- usually 15 minutes at a time (I struggle with fibromyalgia and extreme pain)- and am pleased with each 15 minutes I get done.

That ends up turning into hours and hours some days, fifteen minutes at a time. Some days it's only the fifteen minutes.

God love you, Micci, and help you in your struggle.

Bless up.

 

[jiggyfly]

I posted the scripture and chapter and verse in my post you quoted.
Here's an idea: before you attack someone, read what they actually wrote.


.

My apologies, I misread your post.

I think you don't know what Paul's talking about.

Ofcourse your entitled to your opinion, but I think it is pretty evident that you are the one who is misunderstanding Paul's writings.

What I think the New Covenant is is irrelevant.
I asked you what God says it is.

Suppose you tell me what the new covenant is in God's words.

Seems I'm not the only one who misreads posts around here.


Natty seems you have failed to answer my questions from previous posts concerning your beliefs in living under the law, I asked you to start another thread also and you failed to do this also.

Let me ask again did the priests work on the sabbath?

Do you believe that there are some who have denied Christ being the messiah and yet keep the commandments?

 

[Chad]

Coconut, I didn't say it- Jesus did.

How do you know who my elder is?
My elders read their bibles thoroughly, thank-you very much, and do not ask "Where does it say this, that those who teach not to follow the Law are least in the Kingdom of Heaven" because they already know, having read and marked it many many times.

Perhaps I am your elder- how do you know that I am not?

It is NEVER wrong to tell someone to read their bible.

That's as anti-Jesus as you can get, reprimanding someone for admonishing another to read their bible.

You call the Law- IE the Torah- bad news, you are denying Christ.

I pray for you.

Bless up.

Your tone is rather harsh and arrogant. Read your other previous posts too. Do you talk like this to peoples' faces? I hope not, because if it were me I'd settle your tone quickly, to be quite honest. I don't walk away from someone who's rude to me until I've said my share and proved my point.

To judge someone because you disagree with them is against what Jesus teaches us. To tell them they are denying Christ because you disagree with what they call the Law is being judgmental again. If I were you, I'd be praying for myself first that GOD has mercy on you for judging others the way you did in this thread.

You have what I clearly sense a prideful spirit. That's not welcomed in this site and be careful on your next reply. That's a fair warning to you. There is no reason to belittle people, judge them and assume you're in the right every time you make a response.

The Torah is the O.T. We're under grace now, the N.T. - Jesus Christ. If you cannot see this then you need to study and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Because anyway living under the law is the one denying Christ.

What I think the New Covenant is is irrelevant.

Its apparent you do not believe in Jesus Christ at all. It would be contradicting 100% to say the NT is "irrelevant" and in the same breath say you believe Jesus Christ is Lord Savior, Son of GOD. To believe the N.T. is irrelevant is denying Christ.

I advise you to read the sticky threads in the Evidence & Prophecy forum carefully. That is, if you believe yourself to be humble and wise (open to GOD's teachings), well the proof is there in that forum nicely organized, nicely laid out, all truth. They are relevant too.

As always in the past towards anyone who denies Jesus and/or the Holy Bible (in your case, the NT portion) I challenge you openly to post proof that the NT is irrelevant.