Proverbs 21:25, “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.” 

Last time, we looked at four lazy (but relatable) excuses to avoid work:  

• “It’s too hard.” 
• “I would rather do something else.” 
• “I don’t need to (right now).” 
• “I would rather talk about something else.” 

I’m sure we’ve all fallen prey to one of (if not all of) these excuses at one point or another. But the lazy person finds these excuses to be more than the occasional poor choice – they are characteristic of his way of life. We often make excuses to put off our work, but once again, we must work diligently for God’s glory. 

How do we seek diligence and reject these laziness excuses in the wisdom of God? 

 1. You must understand the principle of “cause & effect.” 

Proverbs 20:4, “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.” 

Proverbs is filled with the idea that you reap what you sow. Your actions have predictable consequences, whether you make good choices or poor choices.  

The lazy man will that it’s too cold to plow. He believes he can figure out the logistics later, but for now he waits until it warms up. The problem is, by his laziness and neglect to do hard work, he will not have what he needs in the harvest.  

You must consider the possible outcome of your choices, knowing that the result is often predictable. While there are many factors in life that we do not control, we also must realize that God, in His providence, has made our world to work a certain way: that if we want success, we must work hard. If we want failure, we must simply put off the hard work until later. 

2. You must foresee danger and take action.  

Proverbs 22:3, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” 

Having understood the principle of “cause & effect,” the wise man will be able to discern what the consequences of his actions will be. But, unlike the fool, he does not stop with this realization. He will also take action to avoid the inevitable danger of making lazy excuses and will instead pursue diligence.  

When a deer jumps out in front of you at dusk, you foresee the danger. You know it will cause damage to your car if you hit the deer. So what do you do? You hit the brakes! You take action to avoid the danger.  

The wise person will be able to discern that if he puts off his homework now, he’ll have less  time to complete the assignment and may have to turn it in late. The wise person will realize that if he doesn’t do the dishes today, he’ll have more to do tomorrow. But the wise person also takes action based on this understanding. He will work on his homework when he has the time and he will do his best to get the dishes done before they pile up too high.  

As he seeks to walk in the fear of the Lord and live for the glory of the Lord, the wise man will take action against poor choices and the inevitable consequences that result.  

3. You must prioritize appropriately.  

Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” 

Proverbs 14:15, “…the prudent man looketh well to his going.”  

In other words, the wise man pays attention to each step in life. He remembers that God designed human beings to work, even before the curse of sin (Gen. 1-3). The prudent man remembers that God not only calls work good, but He is also the prime example of hard, creative, fruitful work (Gen. 1).  

The prudent man will therefore prioritize his steps to reflect God’s good design. In his desire to fear and submit to God, he will work diligently because that is how God made us to live.  

The wise man will do his work before his leisure. The wise man will not let excuses or distractions get in the way of his primary responsibilities. The wise man will focus on what matters most as he seeks to glorify God.  

We must work diligently for God’s glory. Understanding that our actions have consequences, we know that God has providentially designed society to function through our hard work. Certainly, it is in our own best interest to work hard. But because diligence is God’s design, our greatest concern should be abiding by that design so that others “may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).  

Questions for Discussion:  

1. Read proverbs 21:25-26 and 24:30-34. Why does the lazy person refuse to work? What is the result? 
2. Read Proverbs 20:4. Explain the principle that this verse describes. How have you seen this principle play out in your own life? 
3. Read Job 1:6-12. What aspect of reality is not considered in the “cause & effect” principle? 
4. Read Genesis 2:1-3. Why did God rest on the seventh day? What does this passage teach about the balance of work and rest for which we are designed? 
5. What are some areas of your life where you have neglected to see the danger of making lazy excuses?  
6. What are some areas of your life where you need a better balance of work and rest?