It's that time of year again. The time of the year when people are hard at work getting ready for winter. Tim and Florence Henderson were doing just that. They were pulling the last of their produce from the garden, racking leaves, covering their windows with plastic and so on and singing as they worked. Little did they know, someone was hiding in their garden shed.
As Tim and Florence entered the shed
to put some stuff away, they were talking about how good it felt to
get outside and work. When they said the word 'work,' someone,
hiding under a pile of gunny sacks called out “Did I hear somebody
say a nasty four letter word. You could get in big trouble for
saying such things.”
“Harold Peterson!” Tim called out
rather loudly pulling the pile of gunny sacks to the side, “What
are you doing hiding in my garden shed?” “What are you doing
using nasty four letter words?” came Harold's reply. “I haven't
said anything wrong.” Tim replied, “And you didn't answer me.
What are you doing in my garden shed?”
“Yes you did!” Harold exclaimed
not wanting to answer the question, “You said 'work.'” “There
is nothing nasty about work.” Tim replied, “You should try it
sometime. If you really want a nasty four letter word I can give you
one.” “You can?” Harold grinned, “What is it?” “Lazy.”
Tim told him.
“Lazy?” Harold exclaimed, “That's
five letters.” “No, Harold,” Florence spoke up, “It's four.
L A Z Y. You should have known that if you had been paying attention
in spelling class.” “I can think of another reason he should
know it.” Tim added. “Why?” Harold demanded. “Because it's
your first name.” Tim said, “Now why are you in our garden shed.”
“I am not lazy!!” Harold shouted
back. “And that's why you blew up the sewer?” Tim asked. “I
had a very good reason for not wanting to clean my bathroom.”
Harold said. “What?” Michael Henderson said coming into the shed
to put something away, “Afraid you would be attacked by space
aliens?” “Very funny!” Harold scowled, “And why not?”
Florence asked.
“Because it was too big of a mess.”
Harold claimed. “And why is that?” Florence asked. “Because I
never clean it.” Harold answered. “Because you lazy.” Tim
chipped in, “When was the last time you worked hard?” “Just
last year I cleaned my entire bedroom.” Harold boasted. “You
cleaned your room?” Florence started to ask but was interrupted by
Tim “Hey!” he said, “ What are you doing out of your room
anyway. I thought you were grounded till the end of the.”
“I had to escape.” Harold claimed,
“Or my mom was going to put me to work.” “Well,” Tim
grinned, “What do you think we are going to do with you? I think
it's time to put you to work. We need some help tilling the manure
we got from John into the garden.” Upon hearing those words, the
Henderson's found they had a new back door in their shed.
Then the kingdom of heaven will be
like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the
bridegroom. Matthew 25:1 (ESV) In Matthew 25, Jesus is telling
us about the coming of the kingdom of heaven. In the first 13 verses
He talks of being ready, then in the next 17 he talks about being
busy while waiting in the parable of the talents.
"For it will be like a man
going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his
property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another
one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had
received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he
made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two
talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in
the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the
master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he
who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents
more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have
made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good
and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will
set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also
who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered
to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master
said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been
faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy
of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came
forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where
you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was
afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have
what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and
slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and
gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my
money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what
was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to
him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be
given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant
into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.'
Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV)
Think about it. The lazy servant was
punished not rewarded. You do not find the word lazy in most Bible
translations but what you do find is the words sluggard and
slothfulness which basically means lazy.
- Laziness brings poverty - Proverbs 24:30-34 - I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (ESV)
- Laziness bring hunger - Proverbs 19:15 - Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. (ESV)
- Laziness brings death - Proverbs 21:25 - The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. (ESV)
We may not always like the idea but we
are to work – it's part of the curse in the Genesis 3:19 - By
the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the
ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust
you shall return. (ESV) We should take Paul's advice in 1
Thessalonians 4:11-12 and aspire to live quietly, and to mind your
own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so
that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no
one. (ESV)
Here's Something To Ponder
- Do you ever work hard to get out of work?
- How do you feel after doing work?
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