Am I resting or am I just lazy? Well, that depends. As I’ve been talking about rest, I was asked what laziness looks like. This is an important topic to talk about because if we aren’t careful, our resting could turn to laziness. Let’s look at the Bible for this. I’m going to give you my best understanding at this point because I’m still learning about this topic and I’ll revisit it later.
Proverbs 12:24, 27 “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.” “The lazy do not roast[a] any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.”
NIV Study Notes – The way of the lazy man is waste. Waste is poor stewardship. Make good use of everything that God has given you and prize it.
In going through Proverbs with my church, our pastor shared that Proverbs is all over the place and there’s not necessarily any clear or defined outlines for one place to go for things.
Laziness in the Bible is also slothful or idleness.
Matthew 25:26-27 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.”
Resting can look like: going on a walk, playing Candy Crush, playing with my kids, sitting and drinking a cup of coffee, enjoying nature.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[ you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.”
NIV Study Notes – Paul is talking about the person who was lazy. The rule that they followed was that if a man will not work, he will not eat. There’s a difference between leisure and laziness. When it comes time to work, Christians should jump right in. Rest is when you should be resting, and work is when you should be working. It’s providing for yourself and for your dependents.
