As a door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy man on his bed.

-Proverbs 26:14

When we think of a lazy person, typically we think of someone who doesn’t work, sleeps a lot, etc. But what does laziness with our relationship with God look like, how does it affect us? Proverbs 19:15 says: “Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.” When we are idle or too lazy to seek God, we experience spiritual hunger. Now you may think “I’m not spiritually lazy, I am an Elder or I work in the worship team, youth ministry, children’s ministry, etc.

Laziness hides behind excuses and justifications. Let’s take a look at the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-27.

For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

Notice this man said that the Lord was a hard man and he was afraid. He made an excuse by saying he was afraid and tried to justify it because he viewed the task too troublesome. The Lord discerned that the man was lazy and wicked. God sees laziness as wicked.

Proverbs 19:24 states this:

A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

I have always looked at this passage and chuckled. It always seemed like an extreme example, and people couldn’t possibly be that lazy. Never the less God spoke to me one day and said: “Anyone who goes to church but doesn’t bother to understand or apply what they heard is akin to a lazy man.” I was like wow…I have been that lazy man. How many times have I gone to church and forgot about what was said? “Oh that was good, now let’s move on.”

How many times did I read my Bible and not bother to ask the Holy Spirit for understanding of it? If we don’t seek the Lord consistently, we will suffer spiritual hunger. We cannot be listless when it comes to seeking God in His Word and seeking Him for an understanding of it.

Practical Application

• Ask God to reveal areas of laziness in your life. Be open to what the Holy Spirit tells you.
• Ask God to help you be consistent and faithful to spend time with Him.
• Be proactive when hearing the Word. Determine to value what you hear and read in the Bible and seek God for understanding of His Word.