My natural desire after punching out at work is to lie around like a bum and enjoy cheap entertainment.

Oh, and snack on chips and cookies.

And ignore every chore possible.

In fact, I’ve been ignoring my evening tasks so much that even after deciding I was going to work ahead on these devotionals, I realized I hadn’t even written this week’s devotional!

So, I figured, “What better devotional to write than something that would help me? Kill two birds with one stone.” (That’s the lazy man’s way.)

I have a sneaking suspicion that laziness is most people’s factory setting.

By nature, we are self-focused, and obsessed with what pleases us.

But Christ calls us to a different sort of life. A life that’s focused on pleasing others rather than ourselves.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

So, how do we fight our laziness?

As with every other evil, God’s work in our lives begins with us reading what his word says, then praying to repent and correct our hearts, followed by practical actions in the right direction. (Yep, writing this devotional is me workin’ on it…)

So, let’s hit some Scriptures.

But 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

Kind-of puts a damper on my lazy, evening snack-habits.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:17

So, we’re not to do the bare minimum in our job. Rather, we’re to give our best with the goal being to honor Christ.

But it gets more serious.

“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” – 1 Timothy 5:8

Yikes.

So, laziness and selfishness is a big deal.

Scripture says that God saved us to make for himself a people ordained for good works.

We work to take care of our family. We do it to the fullest so that Christ is pleased with us. Not for our own gain, but rather to serve our family and God in joy.

Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Jesus, right our hearts. Make us ashamed of our laziness, and forgive us for it! Give us a pure heart that desires to please you and work hard for your joy. Help us to make enough in our jobs to support our families without working ridiculous hours, so that we can also enjoy being with them, and raising our children up with kindness. Thank you for how you provide for our emotional, spiritual, and physical needs. Amen!

DIG DEEPER

What’s one thing you always avoid doing? The dishes? The garbage? Sweeping? The honey-do list? Pick one thing, and just go do it right now while practicing the presence of God. Praise him while you do it. Thank him while you do it. Seek his joy in the