The Sloth and The Ant or Martha and Mary

The Sloth and The The Sloth and The Ant orAnt orMartha and MaryMartha and Mary

2 Peter 1:5-85 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.Last Sunday Meeting 25Last Sunday Meeting 25thth Nov2012 Nov2012Ehab RoufailEhab Roufail

The Bible on LazinessThe Bible on LazinessLets Look at some Bible verses on Lets Look at some Bible verses on LazinessLaziness

Using the verses answer:Using the verses answer:

•What are the Characteristics of a lazy What are the Characteristics of a lazy person?person?•What causes that person to be Lazy?What causes that person to be Lazy?•Is there a danger to working hard?Is there a danger to working hard?

17th Feb 2012 Patristics Series 2

Verses on LazinessTypes of Laziness

The Bible on LazinessThe Bible on LazinessWhat does the Bible say on Laziness?What does the Bible say on Laziness?

Lets Look at some Bible verses on Lets Look at some Bible verses on LazinessLaziness

Using the verses answer:Using the verses answer:

•What are the Characteristics of a lazy What are the Characteristics of a lazy person?person?

•What causes that person to be Lazy?What causes that person to be Lazy?

•Is there a danger to working hard, Is there a danger to working hard, explain?explain?



Types of LazinessTypes of Laziness• What are the different types of What are the different types of

Laziness?Laziness?



Types of LazinessTypes of LazinessLaziness due to procrastination.Laziness due to procrastination. When you always delay what you have When you always delay what you have to do, simply because you don’t feel like to do, simply because you don’t feel like it, or you prefer to do something which is it, or you prefer to do something which is less energy-consuming in your eyes. less energy-consuming in your eyes. Regardless, you are delaying a task that Regardless, you are delaying a task that you will eventually have to do anyways.you will eventually have to do anyways.

•Some Examples?Some Examples?


Verses on LazinessTypes of Laziness•Laziness dut to putting off

Types of LazinessTypes of LazinessLaziness due to procrastination.Laziness due to procrastination.

Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.do today.

The Bible respondsThe Bible responds

1 Timothy 4:7-8 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train (discipline) yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.



Types of LazinessTypes of LazinessChristian Disciplines:Christian Disciplines:

•Daily reading and meditating on God’s Daily reading and meditating on God’s WordWord

•Daily prayer, worship and quiet timeDaily prayer, worship and quiet time

•Weekly partaking of the SacramentsWeekly partaking of the Sacraments

•Seasonal fastingSeasonal fasting

•Daily serving and stewardshipDaily serving and stewardship



Types of LazinessTypes of Laziness• Laziness due to negative actions. Laziness due to negative actions.

When all your focus and attention is on When all your focus and attention is on the completely wrong issues. Basically the completely wrong issues. Basically you are wasting time doing things that you are wasting time doing things that you shouldn’t be doing while more you shouldn’t be doing while more important matters lie in wait.important matters lie in wait.

• Some Examples?Some Examples?


Verses on LazinessTypes of Laziness•Due to putting off•Due to negative actions

Types of LazinessTypes of LazinessScenario to discuss:Scenario to discuss:

You are the head of Sony – You are the head of Sony – •Microsoft are anouncing the next generation Microsoft are anouncing the next generation of their Xbox in four months timeof their Xbox in four months time•Your team are working on the next Your team are working on the next Playstation in time for a similar announcementPlaystation in time for a similar announcement•Your head of development has locked himself Your head of development has locked himself away in a room and is late to present the away in a room and is late to present the latest proposals to the team?latest proposals to the team?•What should you do?What should you do?



Types of LazinessTypes of LazinessScenario to discuss:Scenario to discuss:

You are the head of Sony – You are the head of Sony –

•Microsoft are anouncing the next Microsoft are anouncing the next generation of their Xbox in four months generation of their Xbox in four months timetime

•Your team are working on the next Your team are working on the next Playstation in time for a similar Playstation in time for a similar announcementannouncement



Types of LazinessTypes of LazinessLets read 1 Samuel 13.Lets read 1 Samuel 13.•Early in his kingship, Saul and the prophet Early in his kingship, Saul and the prophet Samuel had an understanding: Samuel would Samuel had an understanding: Samuel would lead the people spiritually, and Saul would lead lead the people spiritually, and Saul would lead militarily. militarily.

•However, holed up with his troops facing a However, holed up with his troops facing a brigade of Philistines, Saul faced a dilemma. brigade of Philistines, Saul faced a dilemma. Samuel failed to show up on time to offer the Samuel failed to show up on time to offer the sacrifice that Saul and his men relied on to keep sacrifice that Saul and his men relied on to keep them in God's favor. them in God's favor.

•As typically happens when things go off As typically happens when things go off schedule, disorganization set in. The longer Saul schedule, disorganization set in. The longer Saul waited, the more restless his men became; he waited, the more restless his men became; he was losing them.was losing them.



Types of LazinessTypes of Laziness• Saul did what any good manager would do. Saul did what any good manager would do.

He took action. He offered the sacrifice He took action. He offered the sacrifice himself.himself.

• If I were conducting Saul's job evaluation, If I were conducting Saul's job evaluation, I'd give him a bonus. He took initiative and I'd give him a bonus. He took initiative and solved the problem, saving time and solved the problem, saving time and boosting morale in the process. boosting morale in the process.

• But Samuel didn't see it that way. He told But Samuel didn't see it that way. He told Saul he had failed to keep God's command, Saul he had failed to keep God's command, and thus would be deposed by an incoming and thus would be deposed by an incoming king—a "man after God's own heart" better king—a "man after God's own heart" better suited for the job.suited for the job.



Types of LazinessTypes of Laziness• God is not looking for leaders who God is not looking for leaders who

take matters into their own hands. take matters into their own hands.

• He values faithfulness over efficiency. He values faithfulness over efficiency.

• It's no good to organize the whole It's no good to organize the whole world yet be oblivious to the God who world yet be oblivious to the God who created it and holds it together. created it and holds it together.



Types of LazinessTypes of Laziness• Yes, we have practical commitments Yes, we have practical commitments

we need to take seriously. But part of we need to take seriously. But part of being responsible is being response-being responsible is being response-able: centring our lives in such a way able: centring our lives in such a way that we can respond to the world that we can respond to the world around us with the mind of Christ. around us with the mind of Christ.

• Such response-ability is impossible if Such response-ability is impossible if our obligations crowd out any our obligations crowd out any opportunity to get to know him better.opportunity to get to know him better.



Types of LazinessTypes of Laziness

Attending God takes time and requires Attending God takes time and requires stillness. stillness.

It is inefficient in a world that considers It is inefficient in a world that considers getting things done next to godliness.getting things done next to godliness.



Types of LazinessTypes of Laziness• Scheduling is no small matter. Attending Scheduling is no small matter. Attending

to God takes time without offering to God takes time without offering quantifiable results. It requires stillness quantifiable results. It requires stillness in a culture that rewards in a culture that rewards industriousness. It's inefficient in a industriousness. It's inefficient in a world that considers getting things done world that considers getting things done next to godliness. next to godliness.

• A priest or servant who refuses to be A priest or servant who refuses to be slothful in the areas of silence and slothful in the areas of silence and reflection stands a good chance of reflection stands a good chance of being called to his Bishop for a meeting.being called to his Bishop for a meeting.



Types of LazinessTypes of Laziness• Laziness due to inferiority.Laziness due to inferiority. When When

you feel you are not good enough to you feel you are not good enough to do what’s in front of you. Your self do what’s in front of you. Your self confidence is shot and thus paralyzes confidence is shot and thus paralyzes you from accomplishing anything. You you from accomplishing anything. You are doubting your abilities and in the are doubting your abilities and in the process, you are doing absolutely process, you are doing absolutely nothing, You are still, and your nothing, You are still, and your evolution, your progress is at a evolution, your progress is at a screeching halt.screeching halt.


Verses on LazinessTypes of Laziness•Due to putting off•Due to negative actions •Due to Inferiority

Types of LazinessTypes of Laziness"Until you value yourself, you will not "Until you value yourself, you will not value your time.value your time.Until you value your time, you will not do Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it." ~ M. Scott Peckanything with it." ~ M. Scott Peck

Do you know who you are?Do you know who you are?

Do you know you have been called?Do you know you have been called?

And by Whom?And by Whom?



Types of LazinessTypes of LazinessEphesians 4:1-3Ephesians 4:1-3

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge 4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. have received. 2 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.the Spirit through the bond of peace.



Psychology of LazinessPsychology of LazinessPeter 1: 5-11Peter 1: 5-115 5 But also for this very reason, giving But also for this very reason, giving all all diligencediligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue , add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, knowledge, 6 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, godliness, 7 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. and to brotherly kindness love. 8 8 For if these For if these things are yours and things are yours and aboundabound, you will be , you will be neither barren nor unfruitful neither barren nor unfruitful in the in the knowledge knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christof our Lord Jesus Christ. . 9 9 For he who lacks For he who lacks these things is these things is shortsightedshortsighted, even to , even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.cleansed from his old sins.


Verses on LazinessTypes of LazinessPschology of Laziness

Psychology of LazinessPsychology of Laziness10 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more Therefore, brethren, be even more diligentdiligent to make your call and election to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; never stumble; 11 11 for so an entrance will for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Savior Jesus Christ.


• Verses on Laziness

• Types of Laziness

• Pschology of Laziness

Spiritual

The Sloth and The Ant or Martha and Mary