Daily Thought for Monday, may 23rd

May 23, 2011

Are You Slothful Brother John/Sister Sue 

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

  Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”

-  The Bible (Proverbs 6:6-8)

Today’s Thought:

“Sloth (like rust) consumes faster than Labor wears: the used key is always bright.” – Benjamin Franklin

Today’s Question

Did you know:  “Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind?” – Leonardo Da Vinci

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Ever’ once in a while we meet a feller

that’s to proud t’ beg,

an’ to honest t’ steal,

an’ too lazy t’ work.”

- Kin Hubbard (from Abe Martin’s Almanac)

“The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.”

- The Bible (Proverbs 21:25)

“Some are bent with toil, and some get crooked trying to avoid it.”

 – Herbert V. Prochnow

Exactly what does it meant to be slothful?  According to the definition in the dictionary it is, “to be inactive, sluggish, lazy, indolent, or idle.”

Sadly this describes many folks who can be found in churches across the land.  Did you know that, for the most part, the majority of the work that gets done in the local church is accomplished by less than ten percent of the people who attend that church?  That is not to say all these people are totally lazy, but it does seem to indicate that they are spiritually lazy. 

Even Jesus recognized this problem when He was here on earth.  He told His disciples, “

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” – The Bible (Luke 10:2)

Eric Hoffer wrote in ‘New York Times Magazine,’ “Our greatest weariness comes from work not done.”  While Jules Renard wrote, “Laziness: the habit of resting before fatigue sets in.”

Regardless of which one of these two you might agree with the problem remains that there are too few people willing to step up and do what needs to be done in the church today.  Too many folks think that someone else can do it, so they don’t need to.  The truth is we all need to put our hand to the plow and labor for the Master from dawn till setting sun.

Remember Paul wrote this about the idea of works or labors for God, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” – The Bible (James 2:26)

So what about you Brother John or Sister Sue: are you doing your part: are you doing all you can do: or are you being spiritually slothful?

Today’s Verses:

The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

Proverbs 15:19

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.         

Hebrews 6:11-12

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,  That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

                        1 Thessalonians 2:8-12

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I labor for you from dawn till setting sun, may I always share and talk about your wondrous love and care and may I make hay while the sun shines and may you not find me idle when you return.