THE COST OF LAZINESS
Review of Previous Lesson (5 Minutes)
- From the previous lesson, what did you learn concerning social responsibility?
- What social needs did you identify in your community?
Main Text: Proverbs 24:30-34.
Memory Verse: The sluggard says, ‘there is a lion outside! I will be killed in the public square’. – Proverbs 22:13.
Introduction
Many people have the tendency to use excuses to neglect their responsibilities. What is common to lazy people is the attitude of shifting blame and finding reason for their inability to perform a task. Often, the habitual excuse-maker is seen as the weak-link at the workplace. This is a reputation every Christian should avoid. In this light, we shall discuss the underlying causes of this attitude and solutions to dealing with them.
Questions for Discussion
- From the passage, what are the marks of a lazy person? Verses 31-34, Prov. 22:13
- In what ways is the attitude of laziness expressed in contemporary times?
- How does the attitude of laziness leads to poverty? Verse 33-34
- How can the attitude of laziness be dealt with?
Conclusion
The field of the sluggard as described in Proverbs 24:31-34 is overgrown with thorns, covered with weeds and has its fence wall broken. This is because daily, the sluggard finds an excuse to procrastinate, idle about and avoid work. Little by little, work undone accumulates and the sluggard is overwhelmed by the backlog. Laziness brings failure, poverty and lack of progress. Possibly, it is for this reason that some people live in unclean environments while others suffer unemployment and avoidable poverty. No one takes a habitual excuse maker serious at the workplace. They are often bypassed during promotion for which they complain bitterly. Such people are bad example and their testimony as Christians may not be taken seriously. To avoid being lazy, inculcate the habit of self-discipline, avoid procrastination, and plan your day by apportioning time for every task.