Escape from laziness
How can we serve with enthusiasm?
“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” —Romans 12:11
In others, we call it “laziness.” In ourselves, to whom we are more charitable, we call it “procrastination.”
Whatever term we use, it’s all the same. We’re lazy.
I’m a writer, but often my laziness prevents (er, “postpones”) me from cracking open the laptop and getting to work. I search for distractions (it isn’t hard). I find reasons to put off what I know I should do. That’s the very definition of laziness.
If writing were just a hobby, that would be fine. But for me, it’s a calling — just like fatherhood, teaching, and being a youth director. When I’m lazy, I’m failing to fulfill my mission.
This has consequences. If I’m laggard in writing, I may deprive others of help or inspiration. If I’m lackluster in creating lesson plans, I cheat the students who are counting on my instruction. Being lazy in improving my character flaws hurts my family, damages relationships, and impairs my witness.
It’s clear God doesn’t want our laziness, but how do we fix it? The key may be in reframing our perspective. Here are two suggestions:
1) Replace “have to” with “get to.”
When we “have to” do the laundry or get up for work, it feeds into our laziness: A “have to” is a dreary obligation — but a “get to” is an exciting opportunity. Viewing our responsibilities as privileges sparks enthusiasm.
I don’t have to mow the grass. I get to. God has blessed me with a home, and it’s my honor to care for it. I get to corral a hundred crazy middle schoolers and fill their brains with nourishing information.
Replacing a “have to” with a “get to” can convert our lethargy into energy.
2) Don’t focus on the cost. Focus on the outcome.
Laziness works like this: When it’s time to eat, we think of hunting down recipes, going to the market, and dirtying up the kitchen. Focusing on what something costs us in terms of time and effort drains us of our desire to do it.
Instead, focus on the reward. Don’t think about greasy pans; think about a hot, delicious meal. Targeting the feast instead of the preparation gives us more energy to get up and go.
I shouldn’t groan and envision pecking out a column, putting together a lesson, or cleaning up my office. It makes me tired just thinking about them. I have to visualize a wiser reader, an educated student, and a happy wife. Then it’s not so hard.
We can be lazy about serving God, too. When we do, it’s time to reframe.
We don’t have to pray; we get to talk with our Savior and listen as He speaks to our hearts. Don’t think of it as studying the Bible; think of it as savoring a message from your Father, one that shapes you into the person He created you to be.
Jesus gave us the ultimate example of this mindset. While “laziness” isn’t at all the right word for how He approached the cross, His prayer in Gethsemane reveals His deep apprehension over that fatal calling. Someone like me would have hesitated or tried to delay such a mission. But He didn’t. Instead, Jesus fixed his heart on the privilege of obeying His Father and said, “Not My will, but Yours be done.”
Once resolved, Jesus focused on the reward, not the cost. He told the Sanhedrin, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” He didn’t allow the cost of the cross to deter Him from his calling — He looked beyond the suffering and focused on the outcome, telling the thief beside him, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Jesus called us to count the cost of following Him — but He never said we shouldn’t pay it. Embracing that cost often requires a change of heart and mind.
Graceful Contemplation
Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and become wise!
Though they have no prince
or governor or ruler to make them work,
they labor hard all summer,
gathering food for the winter.
But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
When will you wake up?
A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
— Proverbs 6: 6-11 (NLT)
"If you trust in yourself and believe in your dreams and follow your star, you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy." — Terry Pratchett
Thank you for reading!
July was a terrific month of summer vacation! I had the honor and privilege to baptize four of my youth group students at our annual Baptisms on the Beach. I also got to spend some quality time with my brother and celebrated my stepmother’s birthday. It was a wonderfully memorable month!
