How to overcome idleness?

How to overcome idleness?

The Bible speaks very much on this topic and it stresses the consequences that idleness brings to one’s life.In this article I want to limit only to biblical passages that show solutions for those who want to overcome the idleness from their life.

Learn from the hardworking

When I was little I loved to follow the ants and I could stand much time to watch how organized and hardworking they were. If you have not yet followed them, take advantage of the first opportunity. God teaches us that we have to learn a great attitude from these little beings:

 

Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? ”A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest”– Your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man. (Proverbs of Solomon 6:6-11)(NASB)

Do not follow the lazy

People whom you choose as friends will affect you more than you wanted or assumed. Therefore, shirk those who are lazy.In the primary church, Christians used to have a list of the widows, where were written those who served others all their life, but in certain circumstances, they came to an old age having none to care for them.Here’s what Paul wrote concerning recording someone in this list:

A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,  having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. (1 Timothy 5:9-15)(NASB)

Do not lose your time with those who are lazy and come to steal your time, but seek to fulfill your responsibilities well.In this regard, the example of my wife’s grandmother fits well.Being a widow, she had more responsibilities, and when a neighbor came to her who liked to spend time talking, my grandmother took some food and invited her to eat, and then, if she saw that her neighbor continued to talk too much, she excused kindly, let her eat and she went to continue working. Otherwise, the neighbor could take a whole day to talk and the work remained undone.

Do your utmost

No one but you can fight against the idleness that affects or has affected you.Only you can overcome this state and you have to overcome it. God says:

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8)(NASB)

Do not be overcome by laziness, because as the popular proverb says: “Idleness is a great lady, but she does not give you any food.”

Translated by Felicia Rotaru