What I know to be true is that laziness produces its only offspring: poverty. Like most marriages offspring (singular) can easily becomes offspring (plural). When this happens it is no mystery concerning what caused it. There are certain activities that bear this out and the same is true with poverty. The proverb states,
"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon
you like a robber, and want like an armed man." Proverbs 6:10–11 (ESV)
Again, all poverty is not the result of laziness. That must be clear. So this proverb is not speaking of those whose circumstances, though they be hard working, position them in ways that poverty is their reality. Even Jesus tells us "you always have the poor with you,...(Mark 14:7). The poverty in the proverb is for those who are so lazy the proverb almost cartoonishly describes him one who "buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth" (Proverbs 26:15). Poverty will surely come to this individual.
However, we should not think of poverty in merely or only material ways. I will apply this broadly so as to show the fruit of poverty in other areas. There are three areas I see this playing out- though there are countless others that could be listed. Here is the first one:
1. The Sluggard Will Never Succeed Spiritually
The gifts and calling of God upon his life will never fully materialize because the sluggard will not execute above and beyond his comfort. Note this: his goals will never fully materialize. Here is why that is important. The sluggard is not allergic to work, in general. He is allergic to the hard work that brings success. He will be happy with little growth but not have the discipline to see significant growth in the Lord. Again, he "buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth" (Proverbs 26:15).
The sluggard will be happy with his "one-off" godliness. In other words, he will read his Bible today, maybe even pray. He will go to church on Sunday and even give a little and, with this act he will be happy (content in his spirituality) and then, sit back and relaxes believing that one act was sufficient. Yet, he will never sense the presence of the Lord and, surely, will never move beyond the elementary things of the Lord (Hebrews 6:1).
So many believers are fooled into thinking that merely knowing terminology, Bible verses and possessing a little knowledge is proof that they are spiritually fruitful. The reality is that none of these things equate to maturity in isolation of a growing, vibrant, dynamic, intentional and consistent pursuit of the living God. Pursuing Jesus is arduous, tough, embattled, filled with peaks and valleys and the sluggard has zero time for this. If it costs him he will not spend and if it calls of him to live above and contrary to his desires, he will not pursue. He will do just enough to look the part but not enough to experience Jesus. He will be spiritually poor.
Are you spiritually poor because of sluggardom? I can tell you without you even answering in this way:
If you do not spend consistent time in the Word (let's say 3-4 times a week, not including Sunday) you are on the side of spiritual poverty: Because you believe your wisdom is sufficient.
If you do not sacrificially give, regularly, (base level 10%) you are on the spiritual side of poverty: Because you desire to keep money for yourself more than you desire to support thie mission of God's global glory.
If you do not regularly pray (aside from meals) then you are on the side of spiritual poverty: Because you do not need God.
If you attend church occasionally then you are on the side of spiritual poverty: Because you are living in isolation speaking only to yourself, about yourself and by yourself and, regardless of how much you love yourself, that is a tragic and miserable existence. You, alone, cannot grow You.
If you do not regularly confess your sins you are on the side of spiritual poverty:Because you do not see or feel the weight of your sin and this unconfessed sin negatively impacts your intimacy with the Lord.
I could go on, but that is enough for now. Here is what I want you to know: poverty is more than money and things. I believe we can see this truth of spiritual poverty due to sluggardom in what Mark records Jesus teaching about discipleship:
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after
me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his
life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what
does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in
return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and
sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his
Father with the holy angels.”
So, from this we can deduce that it is possible for sluggards to be those who work hard to gain the world but, because taking up the cross is too much for him, laziness will cause him to forfeit his soul.
The sluggard will never succeed spiritually. Instead, he will spiritually die because his lack of discipline proves the non existence of his devotion.
Examine yourself, today.