Years ago I heard Charles Swindoll preach a sermon on “The Characteristics of a Lazy Man” from the book of Proverbs. I took quick, scratchy notes and have occasionally used and expanded on the principles Dr. Swindoll shared that day. I’ve reworked them to the point that now I can’t remember which ones originated with him…probably most. But the following characteristics help distinguish between appropriate ambition and downright laziness.
These characteristics should serve as a warning to young adults, many of whom have been over-protected by their parents and are unfamiliar with hard work. Also, young women, take note! If the guy you’re dating has half of these foibles – don’t marry him. He’s liable to keep you on the edge of bankruptcy your entire life.
1. He can’t get started in the morning. “Laziness brings on deep sleep…” (Proverbs 19:15)
The sluggard loves the snooze button on the alarm. He just can’t drag himself out in the morning. He can sleep until 11:00 am and not feel one bit guilty. In college, he often misses the first-hour class. On the job, he’s always late for early appointments. On Sunday morning he often attends services at the “Church of Saint Mattress.”
“How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:9-11)
2. He seldom finishes anything. “The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions.” (Proverbs 12:27)
The lazy man likes to hunt – that’s the fun part. But cleaning his game, building a fire, and roasting the meat, that’s the tedious part, and he seldom gets it done. He’s got a lot of good ideas, and good intentions. He starts a lot of worthy projects but seldom finishes anything simply because he has trouble persevering when the job gets tedious.
3. He’s full of excuses. “The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!” Or, “I will be murdered in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13)
“It’s a jungle out there!” “I had to quit; my nerves were shot.” “I didn’t go in for a week because the pollen count was up and my allergies were killing me. I didn’t want to contaminate everyone in the office.”
“It’s Friday; no one works on Friday afternoon.” “It’s Monday; no one buys anything on Monday.” “It’s Derby week; the whole town shuts down.” “It’s so cold outside; I was afraid there might be some black ice on the roadway.” “The traffic is so heavy at 8:30; I just wait to come in later.” “The weatherman said there was a possibility of heavy thunderstorms, so I stayed home.” On and on it goes one excuse after another.
4. He seems to get a lot of bad breaks. “The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.” (Proverbs 15:19)
The lazy man has a victim’s mentality. Nothing seems to go right. “Wouldn’t you know it, the morning of the interview my car wouldn’t start, and I was late for the appointment.” “The boss and I didn’t hit it off. He was a Libra, and I’m a Capricorn. I could tell from the start we were going to clash.” “I got caught drinking just one beer on break. That was a ‘no-no.’ But everyone does it. I was just the unlucky one that got caught.”
Everyone experiences a few bad breaks in life, but the lazy person brings it on himself. And he never makes the connection between behavior and consequences. He’s forever the victim. He thinks he’s unfortunate, but in reality, he’s irresponsible.
5. He talks a good game. “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23)
The sluggard is often a big talker. He’s learned how to sound impressive, but it’s a con game. When it comes to the daily grind of showing up on time, sweating it out, being dependable, he disappears. He’s holding out for a higher paying position.
6. He’s full of unrealistic dreams. “He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.” (Proverbs 28:19)
It’s great to have big ideas. Solomon wrote, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). If it weren’t for dreams, we wouldn’t have the internet or the iPhone. But the lazy man dreams of easy money without any effort. His dreams are unrealistic fantasies. He’s going to win the lottery. He’s going to pick the six winners at the race track. He’s learned a secret to speculating on futures. He’s going to play in the NBA. He’s going to be a movie star.
His dreams are unrealistic because they are not preceded by hard work. “He who chases fantasies lacks judgment” (Proverbs 12:11). He lacks common sense. He fails to understand that 99% of dreams don’t come true and those that do take a lot of effort to make the dream a reality.
Someone said, “The ladder of success is like any other ladder. Very few have climbed it with their hands in their pockets.”
7. He gets on people’s nerves. “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him.” (Proverbs 10:26)
Vinegar leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Smoke burns and irritates the eyes. It probably won’t kill you, but it’s a source of serious aggravation. If you have a goof-off on your team or a shirker in your workplace, everyone knows, and it irritates those who work hard. They roll their eyes and tolerate it, but the loafer destroys morale. “One who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9)
Of course, all seven principles apply to women as well. Solomon ended the book of Proverbs praising the virtuous woman who “gets up while it’s still dark” and “works with eager hands” and, “sets about her work vigorously. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”. (Proverbs 31)
If you struggle with laziness, heed the admonition of Proverbs 6:6-8:
“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander or overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
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