THE FREE FOOLPROOF TONIC FOR LISTLESSNESS PROVERBS 21 (NIV) 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. 22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust. 23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity. 24 The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury. 25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. 26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. FOCUS: Verses 25 & 26: “The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.” IDLENESS IS LOOKING AROUND AND BEMOANING ALL THE WORK THAT MUST BE DONE. All of us have a daily challenge not to be a lazy sluggard. No one always feels compelled to work and accomplish things - especially the dirty, unrewarding work of earning a living, keeping house and yard in order, tending to children. Every single person has experienced the feelings of being overcome by what they must do. A person who gets the “Sluggard Award” is the one who has allowed that to be a habit and would prefer to sit still and starve than set his hand or head to painful toil. We can’t live by wishing. And, unless you want others to despise you, you can’t wait for someone else to do the hard work. Just getting off the couch seems to be too much for the sluggard. Even in our relationship with God, idle prayers will not bring us what we seek from God. Knocking, seeking, and asking call for exertion. These verses remind us of the selfishness which is at the root of not acting. Never pray for something you would not be willing to do yourself. These verses show the contrast in not having a desire to do anything against the righteous who give without sparing. They go the second mile. It is no easier for them than for the person on the couch. Willing labor, surrendering time, and thinking of what’s best for others is a habit that can be cultivated. The person who waters others waters himself, and is a "blessing in the land." If you want something done, it is said, ask the busiest person you know. Why? Because they are in motion and will get it done before the body not in motion can even rev up their engine. BUT WHAT IS THIS TONIC? So, how does one get from sitting and wishing all these things would be done to having them done? First, block out “all” that must be done and focus on one thing - it doesn’t matter which thing it is. For example, if your house is in need of a thorough cleaning, focus on the dishes or picking up the clothes off the floor. Just get that one thing done no matter what. You will find that in doing that one thing, you have a small spark of life to also sweep the floor. Then make the bed. There is a commercial that says “a body in motion, stays in motion.” That is true. It is the beginning that is the hardest half of the battle. Put yourself to something - anything - and you will see it is an energy tonic to get it all completed. The writer, James Michener is quoted as saying, “I hate to write, but I love to have written.” Just like him, I hate to clean house or tackle a stack of papers, but I love to sit back when it is done and admire it.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 16:31:51 +0000
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