TOO MUCH WORK.

Proverbs 21:25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work. (NLT)

      When it comes to being lazy, most people in Pupperville think of boy named Harold Peterson but Daisy Smith found out girls can be lazy too.

     It was a cloudy day and it was threatening to rain as Daisy prepared the picnic shelter at the park for the church’s summer picnic. As she rounded one of the corners of the shelter she ran smack dab into one of the Miller twins. “Mindy? Is that you” She asked, “I haven’t seen you around for a long time.” “That’s because I’m grounded for the summer.” Mindy replied

     “Grounded!” Daisy exclaimed, “Let me guess. You and your twin sister were swapping places again.” “We quit doing that a long time ago.” Mindy replied, “It kept getting us in to BIG trouble. I’m grounded because I got a “D” on my report card.” “You got a ‘D?’” Daisy said in astonishment. “Actually” Mindy continued, “I got 4 ‘D’s’ and 2 ‘F’s’”

     “I thought you liked going to school.” Daisy commented. “Only because it got me out of doing work at home.” replied Mindy. “Don’t you have to do work at school?” Daisy asked. “Sort of,” Mindy answered, “but I just bring it home.” “And than you do it?” Daisy finished. “No way!” Mindy told her, “Besides I can’t find it once I get it in my room.”

      “You make it sound like your room is as bad as Harold’s used to be.” Daisy said as she stretched out a tablecloth. “Why don’t you clean it up?” “Are you crazy?!” Mindy shouted out in disbelief, “That would be work.”

     “So, what are you going to do now?” Daisy asked as she spread out another table cloth.

“I think I’ll go watch some TV.” Mindy answered, “There should be something on worth watching.” “Huh?” Daisy questioned, “I thought you were grounded?” “Oh, yeah.” Mindy said sadly, “No TV, no computer, no going out, no this, no that,. I can’t do anything.”

     “Can’t do anything?” Daisy commented, “I think it’s more like won’t do anything!” “I guess I could always go and take a nap.” Mindy responded totally ignoring Daisy’s comment. “How about cleaning your room or studying? Or maybe even helping me set up for the church picnic tomorrow?” “What!” Mindy gasped, “You mean actually work? You must be crazy. I’d rather, rather.....” “Rather what?” Daisy asked. “Oh, never mind.” Mindy answered, “ It would be too much work.”

     What do you know about sloths? Sloths are very slow in their movements, when undisturbed. Reaching a tree limb, the creature advanced along it, body hanging underneath, suspended by the long claws of all four feet. So slowly did it take each step, so deliberately did it place each set of claws over the limb, that one would have thought it was stalking something rather than traveling. Because of their legendary slowness, writers have indulged in exaggerations: before they could come down from one tree and climb another, they were skin and bones, though they were fat when they started; and it took eight or nine minutes for them to move one leg forward three inches; and even in action, the second hand of watch often covers more distance! (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations)

     According to the Oxford dictionary, slothfulness is: reluctance to work or make an effort; or just plain laziness. According to Pope Gregory the Great. Slothfulness is one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

     Slothfulness, better known as laziness to most people, can be quite dangerous.

• Slothfulness Leads To Poverty
  • Proverbs 10:4a - A lazy person will end up poor, (NCV)
  • Proverbs 20:4 - The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. (NKJV)
• Slothfulness Leads To Deterioration
  • Proverbs 24:30-31 - I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. (NLT)
  • Ecclesiastes 10:18 - Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks. (HCSB)
• Slothfulness Leads To Hunger
  • Proverbs 19:15 - A lazy man sleeps soundly--and he goes hungry! (TLB)
• Slothfulness Creates Busybodies
  • 2 Th3:10-11 - While we were with you, we used to tell you, "Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat." We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business. (TEV)
• Slothfulness Is No Good For All
  • Proverbs 10:26 - A lazy fellow is a pain to his employers--like smoke in their eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge. (TLB)
  • Proverbs 18:9 - A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things. (NLT)

     With such a reputation, one can see why slothfulness or laziness is so deadly but there is hope in ants. Proverbs 6:6-8 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazy bum Learn from their ways and be wise! For though they have no king to make them work, yet they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.

      Here's something to ponder

• Are you considered to be lazy?
• Do you ever encourage laziness in others?