Unmasking Laziness that Hinders Growth

“Your daughter’s right eye does not work.  Well … it works, but it does not do anything.  The eye is healthy; it simply does not use its ability. The left eye does all the work.”

Discussion of potential difficulties and treatment options ensued.  It wasn’t until our daughter took an eye exam for her driver’s license, though, that we saw the ramifications.  Rattling off the digits in the view-finder, Riesa stopped at what she perceived to be the end of the line.  The examiner quietly said, “There are four more digits on the right.”  Immediately realizing what was happening, Riesa shut her left eye.  The lazy eye then did what it could have done in the first place–and she finished the test flawlessly.  The insights that provided regarding the loss caused by laziness jolted me!

It is so easy to have an appearance of work–and a reality of laziness.  The imperceptible losses compound without notice! The Christian life is a hidden life.

For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

We are admonished to judge no man by the flesh–even ourselves.  However, we naturally assume that busyness precludes laziness. “Lazy” is not a label any of us want to wear.  Most are quick to judge others for a lack of initiative.  My daughter’s eye made me realize that laziness can cover itself very well.  Christians are in the process of working out what Christ has put within us. (Philippians 2) The new nature placed within a believer at salvation is divine–and working it out is a process that requires effort.  It is all too easy for us to coast–looking good but being lazy!  Brother or Sister in Christ, that ought not be our story!

James encourages believers to “let patience have its perfect work.” A willingness to suffer brings us to completion.  Laziness usually happens because we are weary of trying; we grow tired of the “suffering” of effort and long for comfort.  The disciplines of faith take time to produce.  Do you have the same passion you once had for the fundamentals of faith like Bible reading and prayer?

Luke 21:19 records Jesus speaking of the difficulties to come in the end.  He says patience allows us to possess our souls:  our mind, our will and our emotions come under our control when we exercise our willingness to suffer.  Are your words those that God desires?  Do you have a sweet, caring heart for those who treat you poorly?

Paul speaks of the discipline of the body–that it is to be submitted to the will of God.  Are you eating healthy and caring for your physical body?

We live by grace and not under the Law–but we grow in grace when we refuse to be lazy.

As I consider those facets of life, I am deeply convicted of laziness.  I work very hard–at the things I like to do.  Perhaps those things come at the expense of what God desires me to do?  My daughter’s lazy eye propels me to listen more closely to the Father’s plans. So I will not be lazy in the work He designed me to do!  The admonishments of Peter make a great daily reminder: there is work we must  not leave undone.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  2 Peter 1:5-7

God is never mean-spirited.  He only nudges us toward surrender that He might give more of Himself.  Receive!

How about you?  As you think on the appearance of busyness, do you feel a nudge about laziness?