“To
be Idle”
What exactly does
it mean to be “idle”? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes
idleness as “groundless”, “worthless”, “useless”,
“not occupied or employed”, “inactive”, “lazy”
and finally to “spend time doing nothing”. In the Bible,
GOD condemns the behavior of being idle.
Prov.19
[15] Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall
suffer hunger.
Ezek.16
[49] Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness
of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters,
neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
These two verses
speak of the warning against idleness. To be idle is to be lazy. GOD
did not create us to be lazy. Adam was given a job after he was created:
to till the garden and keep it. Eve was given a job after she was created:
to be Adam’s helper. All of us have a job we are supposed to be
doing. Also, everything has a job. The trees have a job, the air has
a job, the sun has a job, the heart has a job, the Christian has a job
and even the devil has a job. NOTHING that GOD created was created without
a job and without a purpose. Everybody has a job! Paul even told the
following to the Christians at Thessalonica:
2Thes.3
[10] For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if
any would not work, neither should he eat.
So we see that there
is no respect with GOD or man for the soul that will not work.
So what is the
point? In America we have made “being idle” into an art
form. Just like Sodom we have an abundance of idleness in our society.
Ever known someone that just rambled on all the time? Talking all the
time but not actually saying anything? That is us, the good ole USA.
We have every convenience known to man; yet, we seem to have less time
than ever (especially for GOD). Always busy, yet accomplishing nothing
for GOD or anything that will have ANY lasting value.
I will tell you a major part of the problem. The problem is that because
with our technology and advancements we are too used to being entertained.
We have video games, movies, computers, internet, hobbies (from toys
to cars), sports and cable TV with dozens of channels. We are constantly
being entertained and the instant we aren’t being entertained:
“I’m bored”. Yet, during all the hours of these activities,
NOT ONE actual thing was accomplished. We just sit around and wonder,
“what is there to do”? What a SHAMEFUL state for a so-called
Christian to be in! “Then what am I supposed to be doing”?
I’ll give you a start. The Bible says to “pray without ceasing”.
“But I don’t want to do that” or “man, that
is boring” or better yet “I don’t feel like doing
that”. THAT IS THE PROBLEM! Again, we are so used to being entertained,
thus constantly fulfilling the desires of the flesh, that when someone
or the BIBLE asks us to do something we don’t want too! Well,
who asked you? GOD didn’t ask, he commanded! We have trapped ourselves
into a lazy “do nothing” feel-good lifestyle.
(And we all know that our feelings have NOTHING to do with serving GOD.
That is a whole different can of worms that will not be dealt with completely
here but “feelings” are not part of living right. I give
a challenge to anyone who reads this to find ONE VERSE establishing
that our feelings have ANY part in choosing right from wrong and living
in right relationship before GOD).
If you have time
for “surfing the internet”, you have time for GOD.
If you have time for hobbies, you have time for GOD.
If you have time for your favorite TV show, you have time for GOD.
If you have time to rent a movie, you have time for GOD.
If you have time to goof off with your friends, you have time for GOD.
There is NO excuse
under the sun for not fulfilling your duty as a Christian. If even your
job takes up your time with GOD, then get a different job. GOD never
blesses you with something that keeps you away from him. There is NO
excuse. It basically comes down to the individual. The truth is a lot
of people just simply DO NOT love GOD the way they say they do. Actions
are proof of what you love. The key is being honest with you being honest
with you. If you had time to watch your favorite TV show and some how
just “couldn’t fit GOD into your busy schedule”; then
you love TV more than GOD. Plain and simple! Works do not save us but
our works show us where our heart is. I always like to give this analogy:
If I am beating you over the head with a stick and at the SAME time
telling you I love you…what are you going to believe? Going to
believe those words or those works? I’ll bet “works”
get the vote every time. Get the point? Oh and I love this one, ever
hear anybody say, “nobody better call me during The Practice”
(just fill in with any popular TV show if The Practice isn’t your
favorite) or “nobody better bother me while the game is on”.
Funny, I’ll bet if someone interrupted their Bible reading time
they wouldn’t be near as concerned. In fact, I’ll bet they
wouldn’t really be upset at all. But don’t interrupt that
game or show, you’re sure to met with shortness or even rudeness!
Of course the REAL problem is most so-called Christians in America don’t
read their Bible enough to even be given a chance to be interrupted.
There are going to be times in our lives that we ALL have to face ugly
truths about ourselves but we also have to be willing to deal with those
truths. If you are spending time with everything but GOD and never have
time for him yet you always seem to be busy, I am talking to you. Please
do not pass up this opportunity to get right with GOD! Repent brother
because there is so much work to be done. Jesus said:
Luke.10
[2] 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.
According to our
LORD there is so much to be done! Everybody and I mean EVERYBODY knows
at least one person that needs to be saved. You want to know what dawned
on me one day? This is why it is SO important that we do our jobs as
Christians. You may be the ONLY saved person in a particular individuals
life or you may be the only real Christian in a particular persons life.
Church attendance doesn’t save you. Jesus bumper stickers on your
car do not save you. “Looking” spiritual doesn’t save
you! You may think other people care but many times they really don’t.
I have known so-called Christians on different jobs during my life (and
have even been guilty of this myself) who watched and worked with people
they KNEW would go to hell of they died and never made one effort to
reach out to them. Never lifted up one single prayer, never invited
them to church or anything! So please do not make assumptions. So my
point is if you are the only concerned Christian in a persons life and
you don’t help them, who will? If you are the only saved person
that a lot of people know and you don’t pray for them, who will?
Get the point? There is plenty of work out there for EVERY Christian
and if your can’t find something to do for GOD, it is BECAUSE
YOU JUST DO NOT WANT TO !!! Plain and simple.
NO MORE EXCUSES.
Now let us look
at Jesus calling us to duty in this parable found in Matthew chapter
20:
Matt.20
[1] For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder,
which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
[2] And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he
sent them into his vineyard.
[3] And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle
in the marketplace,
[4] And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever
is right I will give you. And they went their way.
[5] Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
[6] And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing
idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Did you see the
question there Christian? Why are you idle? I know “your”
schedule is busy but why are you idle? I mean idle concerning the things
of Christ, the things of GOD. About 99 percent of the daily things we
deem so important that over-ride our commitment to GOD will not amount
to a hill of beans at the Judgement. Heck, most of it will not matter
10 years from now, won’t matter 5 years from now, next year and
even next week. YET! These are the things that seem so important and
daily take their precedence over the very WORD of GOD.
Finally Christian, I am not saying to forsake your duties as a father
or mother or to not make sure your family is provided for. What I am
saying is that we spend A LOT of time on things that are NOT NECESSARY
for life and then give GOD the short end of the stick.
Cable TV is NOT
a necessary bill or a necessity for life.
A boat is not a necessary thing to own.
You do NOT need 3 thirty thousand-dollar cars in the driveway.
You do not NEED a 500 thousand-dollar home.
Cell phones are a convenience, NOT a necessity.
Watching your favorite TV show or sporting event takes a BACKSEAT to
your daily Bible study.
These are the things
I am talking about. I’ll bet if you really start living and spending
your day doing what is more important FIRST and actually necessary that
you will find that 99.9999999 percent of us have PLENTY of time to do
what we are supposed to be doing.
Please send all
questions and comments to:
Born-again@earthlink.net
THANKS, the author.