Lazy Minds, Lost Communities

Day Forty-Eight

Lazy Minds, Lost Communities (Read Proverbs 18:9-12)

In a fast-paced world that values productivity and active participation, laziness (sloth) emerges as a complex issue that extends beyond the individual. Often characterized by a lack of motivation, engagement, or a sense of responsibility, Lazy people can pose certain risks to themselves and the broader community. When critical tasks go unfulfilled and social commitments are neglected, the ripple effects can be far-reaching, impacting social dynamics, economic stability, and collective well-being.

When was the last time you reflected on the multifaceted implications of laziness, exploring how it jeopardizes community structure, hinders progress, and fosters a culture of laziness that ultimately affects us all? By examining the interplay between individual behaviors and societal consequences, Proverbs 18:9-12 sheds light on a topic that warrants closer scrutiny in our interconnected lives.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." ~ Thomas A. Edison

⁹ A lazy person is as bad as
    someone who destroys things.

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;
    the godly run to him and are safe.

¹¹ The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense;
    they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.

¹² Haughtiness goes before destruction;
    humility precedes honor.

Do you consider yourself lazy? Would others consider you to be lazy? Is your partner/spouse lazy? How about your children, neighbors, co-workers, etc.? A domino effect created by sloth challenges everyone, especially when those dominos fall in your front yard and community.

"Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes it." ~ Benjamin Franklin

How do you feel when you see someone in a vehicle better than yours with a handicap sticker, parking in handicapped parking, exiting the car, and walking to the store fitter than yourself? Or, when you speak to someone who says they are on disability but getting ready to play golf, go fishing, or shopping? Every external observation suggests they are playing the system, living off the government, a.k.a. the taxpayer. Does it create an angst inside your soul, especially when you bust your tail every day trying to make ends meet?

We are to run to the Lord for safety, and Jesus underscores this invitation when he says, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). 

Our wisdom reading today is speaking directly to the person who is lazy and suffers from sloth. Laziness is contagious and can impact families, neighborhoods, and communities. Everyone complains about the filth, but no one will pick up a trash bag. Everyone complains about the decrepit buildings and unmowed lots. Still, nobody orders a dumpster, picks up a hammer, or pushes a lawnmower, causing the home, the neighborhood, and the community to lose value and become an eyesore.

If you suffer from laziness, then seek help. You may need therapy, coaching, and mentorship, but you can change one action at a time. It becomes overwhelming when you look at what laziness costs you and see the pile of days, months, and years in the backdrop. It creates a sense of impossibility inside your soul, which creates an endless supply of rationalization and excuses for your current state. The easy way out is for someone else to do the work, for the government to pay the bills, and for your family, friends, and neighbors to take on the burden of caring for you. God says, "STOP IT." It's time to get off your tush, clean up your life, and become a productive member of society. Are you ready? You can do this!

May God bless your hearing, understanding, and application of today's wisdom.