[Feature Story] Characteristics of spiritual laziness
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April 02, 2023 |
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Proverbs 26:15 says, “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.” As it says, lazy people don’t eat because it’s hard to put food in their mouth even if they have food in front of them.
A spiritually lazy person leads a lukewarm life of faith because he does not practice the word of God he listened to.
What should we do to rapidly cast away spiritual laziness, change our hearts through the word of God, and grow in spirit?
01. Lazy people don’t ask God but like to make excuses.
Lazy people like to make excuses. Even in their lives of faith, they do not obey the word of God, giving excuses for this and that. If they’re told to “evangelize”, they make excuses saying, “I don’t know how to evangelize. I’m shy by nature.” If they’re told to “receive a duty and be faithful”, they say, “I can’t do it because of lack of ability.”
In fact, if you want to obey, you can do it. If you don’t know, you can ask and do it. If you lack wisdom or ability, you can ask God. However, they do not obey, making excuses. Sometimes, they get discouraged and sit down after blaming the environment or people around them without making any effort on their own. Instead of complaining and hoping for someone to help, they should do their best on their own. Only then can they be changed.
It says in Proverbs 20:4, “The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.” Lazy people starve because they have nothing to eat, and they will also starve at the Great White Throne Judgment because they do not plow the fields of their hearts spiritually. Realizing that there is no reward and salvation is uncertain, we should pray fervently and diligently cultivate the field of our hearts to make it good soil so that we can welcome the Lord with joy when He returns.
What should we do if it is not easy to cast off sins and evil in the process of striving to cast them off? If we do not become discouraged by making excuses about our background or environment, but if we acknowledge our shortcomings and pray diligently to start with the small things, we can change with the help of the Holy Spirit.
02. Lazy people settle for doing as much as they have been doing, as easily as they can.
It says in Proverbs 26:14, “As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.” Just as a door fixed on a hinge has limits in its movement, those who only seek comfort are lazy and roll around on a bed. Even spiritually, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they do not try to cast off their old habits and move toward to become a better person. They only do as much as they have done so far, as much as they can easily do.
If we want to enter a better kingdom of heaven, we should continue to take it (Matthew 11:12), but if we stop at some point, can our spiritual faith grow? If you only think of what is good and beneficial in your own eyes and are stubborn, you will not be able to achieve spiritual growth any longer by staying where you are.
Spiritually lazy people make it difficult for those who around them by judging and condemning within their own righteousness and frameworks with the words of knowledge they have learned so far. If someone tries to enlighten them with the Word, they will have a hard time and shrink back. Moreover, even though they have years of faith, they do not try to develop any further and settle down. It is like water that stagnates and rots. As time passes, problems arise in their life of faith and spiritual growth stops, so they have no choice but to regress.
Therefore, in order for us to achieve spiritual growth, we should never stop at the ability acquired through experience and repeated actions in the years of faith. We can lead a happy Christian life when we quickly throw away spiritual laziness and change daily through the circumcision of our heart and fulfill our duties for the Lord.
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