Resting is so important to our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. In fact, God set the example of resting after creation. He rested. And, later God created a day of rest in the Old Law. So, there is absolutely nothing wrong with resting. It is actually a biblical concept. But, resting can easily turn into laziness if we are not careful. So, Satan will use resting to lead us to laziness if we are not vigilant in our attitudes about rest and work.
So, what is the difference between resting and laziness? I really like this analogy – Resting is taking a pit stop in a race; laziness is refusing to run at all. The key differences between the two lie in intent and necessity. Resting is a deliberate pause to recharge after physical, mental, or emotional effort, whereas laziness is the avoidance of effort when action is required. Rest is essential for recovery, while laziness stems from procrastination or neglecting responsibilities without a valid reason.
Laziness often starts with rest. We take a break, but that break extends longer than intended. Over time, the prolonged rest becomes a habit, eventually turning into laziness. And, therein lies the Devil’s mask.
Solomon warns us about the dangers of laziness:
The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway. Proverbs 15:19
A lazy person’s life will be difficult and filled with obstacles, while the path of the hardworking and diligent will be smooth, like a well-paved highway. Those who avoid work will face hardships, as they neglect their responsibilities and obligations.
The Scriptures of full of warnings about laziness and the consequences of living a lazy life:
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. – Proverbs 13:4
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. – 2 Thess. 2:10
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. – 1 Tim. 5:8
The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. – Proverbs 21:25
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. – Proverbs 20:13
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. – Proverbs 14:23
Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. – Proverbs 19:15
The Scriptures also tell us how to avoid the trap of laziness. We are to commit to hard work, recognizing that our efforts are ultimately for the Lord rather than ourselves.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, – Col. 3:23
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. – Eccl. 9:10
Ultimately, we are human, so we will need to take breaks and rest. Sometimes, those breaks will be longer than others for a variety of reasons. But, we must be mindful that those longer resting periods are used by the Devil to lure us into a lazy lifestyle. Instead, we need to remember what Jesus told his Pharisees when they criticized him for his actions on the Sabbath:
So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense, Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” – John 5:17
Jesus did not live a lazy lifestyle. He rested but he was never lazy. We must know the difference. We should always seek opportunities to serve the Lord, even in the smallest ways, knowing that He is constantly at work for us. #SinsGreatMasquerade
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