Satan encourages laziness. He knows that God has ordained for men to work by the sweat of their brows. Satan knows God has ordained that “you shall reap what you sow” and if a man can be tempted to sow little, he will reap a little. Such a sluggard might be easily tempted to also curse God for not providing for him.

Proverbs 24:33-34 says, “33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest, 34 Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man.”

Too lazy to get out of bed? Get ready to be hungry. Christian parents, do you encourage your children to relax and take it easy because “they will have to work for the rest of their lives”? Well, be prepared for them to do later exactly what you have trained them to do today. They will live off of you and off of others. There’s no reason that a child should not learn labor very early. They should pick up their toys. They are participants and partners in the household. They can dust, or help in the yard, or in taking out the garbage. If you want your children to prosper, warn them what God has said “he that sows sparingly shall reap sparingly.” It’s the law of life. God is not mocked.

Certainly, the outcome comes from the Lord. He blesses us with our bounty if we are faithful. But if we are faithless, we cannot expect that God will give us anything. “If a man won’t work, neither let him eat”, 2 Thess. 3:10.

Satan is a liar and deceiver. He wants people to live in confusion and to blame God for their own mistakes. God makes it clear that we should work with our hands, 1 Thess. 4:11. Anything less is shameful.

Categories: faith and works, labor, laziness