Bible Study & Devotional 243
written by: Torrie Slaughter
Guiding Scripture: Proverbs 22:13 ‘The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!” ‘
🔴Absurdity
I’m not a fan of mosquitoes. I think they are very disrespectful insects. There are certain areas I will not travel into because I know they are out for blood. I allowed these tiny ‘beasts’ to dictate where I went and when. So is that an excuse or prudent thinking?
A Great Lion Maker
The Proverbs compares the foolish to wise, lazy to hard-working, and righteous to the wicked. The pithy sayings are simple, to-the-point convictions that we can use to begin self-examination. Proverbs 22:13 is one example that doesn’t appear as frequently in the book; however, the instruction is plain.
The Art of Excuse
Laziness provides several excuses:
1. difficulty of the task
2. dangerous conditions
3. painful encounter
A lazy person is unwilling to work despite having the ability to act or exert himself. Laziness can manifest as fear, pride, or arrogance and destroys trust in relationships. That’s just the tip of the iceberg! If one continues to make ‘lazy excuses,’ it kills, steals, and ends progress. These tricks of the adversary may seem plausible until one realizes that all their pretenses gained them nothing.
Negligence
A person who knows the all mighty God would not fear a lion in the town square. The reverential fear of the Lord would surpass the imaginary excuse. However, King Solomon wanted to contrast the sluggard’s thoughts and warn us of this neglectful character trait.
No matter the domain we find ourselves we can ponder our attitudes.
- Have we neglected cultivation in our field of expertise?
- Do we make excuses and meet ‘difficulties’ with imagined danger?
- Is the weather an ongoing inconvenience?
Sweat Equity
One sure way to combat laziness is to take control of active thoughts. Ask God through the Holy Spirit to reveal behavioral patterns that negatively impact you, your family, business, school, or church. If you know you are a procrastinator, pray for systems to help break harmful habits. Our Great God has the power to transform and renew your mind. Don’t be afraid to undergo reconstruction, no matter your age. Nothing is impossible for our Lord.
Prayer: Lord, please help us to train our thoughts to obey you. Do not let our perceived wisdom create excuses to be disobedient. Please help us to understand that our laziness is an aversion to the things of You. Amen
🔴 The Bible In A Year Daily Reading Plan
Job 37:1-39:30, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 22:13
This devotional was written by Torrie Slaughter the founder of Our Given Purpose® for A Daily Purpose Bible Study & Devotional. Want to hear more? Tune in on Mondays and listen to Our Given Purpose the Podcast and on Fridays to Talking on Purpose with Torrie the Podcast & Internet Show. Torrie also hosts a YouTube channel of the same name.
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