This article is the last in a series that the chaplains here at MCB Quantico have written on what are commonly called ‘‘The Seven Deadly Sins.” Perhaps it is ironic that I was the last one to write my article and the subject of the article is laziness. However, it wasn’t so much that I procrastinated as that I made other things a priority.
Science has a lot to say about laziness. Newton’s first law of motion states that an object in motion tends to remain in motion, and an object at rest tends to remain at rest. While some are naturally driven to complete projects, others are apathetic, requiring motivation to overcome inertia.
The Bible has a lot to say about laziness as well. And since from the beginning (Genesis 2:15) God ordained work for man and laziness is sin.
Proverbs is especially filled with wisdom concerning laziness and warnings to the lazy person. Proverbs tells us that a lazy person hates work: ‘‘The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work” (21:25). He loves sleep: ‘‘As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed” (26:14). He gives excuses: ‘‘The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets’” (26:13). He wastes time and energy: ‘‘He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great waster” (18:9 KJV). He believes he is wise, but is a fool: ‘‘The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly” (26:16).
Proverbs also tells us the end in store for the lazy: A lazy person becomes a servant (or debtor). ‘‘Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor” (12:24). His future is bleak: ‘‘A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing” (20:4). He may come to poverty: ‘‘The soul of the lazy man desires and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (13:4 KJV).
There is no room for laziness in the life of a Marine or sailor. There is no room for laziness in the life of a Christian either. A new believer is truthfully taught that ‘‘...it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). But a believer can become idle if he falsely believes God expects no fruit from his or her new life. ‘‘For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
God’s people are not saved by works, but they do show their faith by their works (James 2:18, 26). Slothfulness violates God’s purpose — good works. The Lord, however,empowers His people to overcome the flesh’s propensity to laziness by giving us a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In our new nature, we are motivated to diligence and productiveness out of a love for our Savior who redeemed us. Our old propensity toward laziness (as well as all other sin) has been replaced by a desire to live godly lives: ‘‘He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28).
We are convicted of our need to provide for our families through our labors: ‘‘If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever”(1 Timothy 5:8); and for others.
The consequences of laziness are cumulative and long lasting. We snowball into a lifestyle that is both physically unhealthy, as well as unproductive. Spiritually and mentally we can also snowball into a habitual life of laziness that keeps us from being our best for God.
Laziness (of both the body and the mind), if we are not careful, can become a lifestyle that is detrimental to our well being. Laziness is overcome by identifying its causes and having an awareness of its consequences. The best way to overcome our bent towards laziness to it is to have oneself occupied all the time with some meaningful work (with of course, appropriate times of rest mixed in).
It is true, as the saying goes, ‘‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”
— Chaplain: paul.hyder@usmc.mil
Schedule of Services
All Services are held in the U.S. Marine Memorial Chapel unless otherwise stated. For more information, call theCommand Chaplain’s Office at 703-784-2131.
Roman Catholic
Sunday
9 a.m., 12 p.m. Mass
10:30 a.m. Religious Education
Monday – Friday
11:30 a.m. Mass
Protestant
9 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Quantico Community Christian Worship
TBS Worship Schedule
Protestant Service 9 a.m.
O'Bannon Hall
3rd Deck Chapel
Islamic
Friday Jumah
Noon
Daily Dhuhr
1:15 p.m.
Jewish
For information call the Fort Belvoir Jewish Chaplain’sOffice at 703-806-4316 or Quantico’s Jewish Lay Leader, retired Lt. Col. Mike Haas, at 540-657-5658.
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