Posted on 07/18/2021 11:11:11 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again” (Proverbs 19:24).
“A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom,” he folds his arms and says, “I ain’t gonna do it!” In this case, we could imagine a father telling his lay about son to get up and go get a job and start supporting himself. If the dad had started early in his boy’s formative years and helped him to grow a character they’d likely not be having his conversation.
“. . . and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again,” it’s not that the lazy man gets so lazy that he won’t even feed himself—verse 15 says, “Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.” –the reason he doesn’t bring his hand to his mouth is because he hasn’t earned enough to buy any food with, so he has nothing to put in his mouth.
Once a person starts down the path of laziness, work becomes harder and harder. A lazy attitude toward work will make you sleepy (Proverbs 19:15); obstacles will seem much more difficult (Proverbs 15:19). Diligence begins in the heart and mind, when you choose to enjoy work. The best way to tackle a job is to start now, with intensity. Do not think about it. Hard work is its own reward, but you only know this blessing by getting to work.
Ever heard, “I’m too tired to fix anything tonight”? Virtuous women do not say this. A woman would feel better and less tired, if she ran to the kitchen and creatively put supper together. The words themselves, and the thoughts generating them, are mentally and physically disabling. Do not make excuses. Work! You will feel better and sleep better.
An anonymous Christian wrote:
Almighty God, as I sit here this lovely Sunday morning surrounded by the paper and half listening to one of the preachers over the radio, it has just come to me that I have lied to Thee and to myself.
I said 1 was not well enough to go to church. That was not true. I would have gone to the office if it had been Monday morning. I would have played golf if it had been Wednesday afternoon. I would have attended my luncheon club if it had met this noon.
But it was Sunday morning, and “Sunday sickness” seems to cover a multitude of sins.
God, have mercy on me; I have lied to Thee and to myself. I am not sick; I am lazy. Amen.
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