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The Dangers Of Idleness
July 22, 2012
When man gets a lot of leisure time on his hands, he tends toward unrighteous thoughts and ways. He invents diversions that often evolve into perversions. He makes up things, replacing God's wisdom and knowledge with his own entertainment and philosophies. God intended us to work, not only to meet our own needs and those of our immediate families, but also the needs of our needy extended family and community.
Bernie Parsons
The
Dangers of Idleness
by
Bernie Parsons
Presented to Load church of Christ on 07-22-2012
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 07-29-2012
We
recently considered the foolishness of man’s wisdom versus the truth of
God’s wisdom and knowledge, following with the evil that springs from man’s
mind when he turns his thoughts inward instead of allowing God’s thoughts to
be his thoughts. My observation has been that idleness leads to this evil
imagination. Bored people seek diversions for their boredom, often leading
to perversions in order to entertain themselves. They then neglect godly
duties.
God
created man to work while in the garden in Eden, and even after being
expelled from it.
Genesis 2:15 "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of
Eden to dress it and to keep it."
Genesis 3:17 "And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the
voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee,
saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in
sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat
the herb of the field;
19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the
ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust
shalt thou return."
In
the Old Testament writings, there are several warnings against idleness.
Proverbs 19:15 "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul
shall suffer hunger."
Ecclesiastes 10:18 "By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through
idleness of the hands the house droppeth through."
Proverbs 20:4 "The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore
shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing."
Proverbs 26:15 "The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him
to bring it again to his mouth."
The
slothful allows his house to fall apart and his barn to collapse. He makes
excuses as to why he cannot plow his garden, and then goes begging because
he did not put aside enough for the winter season. The slothful is so lazy,
that he harms himself, and his family.
Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to
sleep:
11
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed
man."
In
Ezekiel, the Lord condemned Sodom because idleness led to arrogance and
perversion.
Ezekiel 16:48 "As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not
done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
49
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread,
and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she
strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50
And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took
them away as I saw good.
51
Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied
thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all
thine abominations which thou hast done.
52
Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins
that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous
than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou
hast justified thy sisters."
Idleness leads to abominations, such as homosexuality as was in Sodom, and
idol god worship, such as in Samaria. The people were to work, not only to
meet their own needs, but also for those of the less fortunate. In their
idleness, the people of Sodom did not help the poor and needy.
Deuteronomy 24:19 "When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and
hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it
shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the
LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
20
When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again:
it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
21
When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it
afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the
widow."
The
apostle Paul spoke of this.
1
Thessalonians 4:9 "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write
unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10
And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but
we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
11
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with
your own hands, as we commanded you;
12
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have
lack of nothing."
2
Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you,
that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not
at all, but are busybodies.
12
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that
with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
13
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing."
We
work to feed our immediate and extended families. Idleness leads to strife
and sin.
1
Timothy 5:3 “Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew
piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable
before God.
5
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and
continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9
Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having
been the wife of one man,
10
Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she
have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have
relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
11
But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton
against Christ, they will marry;
12
Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and
not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they
ought not.
14
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the
house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15
For some are already turned aside after Satan."
Don’t forget the description of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 who used
her strength, time and mental faculties to take care of her family.
The
entire life of the Christian is based upon working. We support ourselves and
help others.
Philippians 2:"1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any
comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one
accord, of one mind.
3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves.
4
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of
others.
5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"
Ephesians 4:28 "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour,
working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to
him that needeth."
