God does not want you slothful

Slothfulness leads to penury

Trust Maanda
Looking at the Unseen
ROMANS 12:11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
God is not the author of laziness. He does not promote it.
The Bible never tells us to take it easy and let God do everything.
God calls His people to work, to watch, to be diligent.
He gives you power to get wealth. The power, He gives, but you put it to use. He gave Israel the land of Cannan, but He did not go in the land and sweep it, build houses and hang curtains, and then invite Israel to enter it. No. He gave them the land, but they had to fight to possess every inch of Canaan. They had to drive out the inhabitants of it.
The text says: “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”
The word ‘slothful” means lazy, careless, slow, dragging your feet.
The word “business” here means zeal, earnestness, whatever God has put in your hand.
While you work, be fervent in spirit. Your spirit should be boiling, on fire, not cold and indifferent.
Colossians 3:23 says: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”
This means, if you are employed, make sure you put your 100 percent effort. When you sweep the floor, sweep it clean as if you are serving the Lord because you are. When you raise your children, raise them well as you are serving the Lord. When you run your business, do it well because in doing so, you are serving the Lord.
Slothfulness leads to penury.
“He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”
Proverbs 18:9: “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.”
A slack hand equals empty pockets. Don’t just say God is a provider, and then fail to get up and apply for the job. God blesses the work of your hands.
Faith without works is presumption. God provides seed to the sower, not to the sleeper.
In Proverbs 6:6-8, the Bible says: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”
God sends us to an insect on a study visit for wisdom. The ant has no boss watching or urging her, but she works. She prepares in summer for winter. She doesn’t wait for crisis. She is diligent.
A sluggard finds excuses not to work, but the result is that he will beg when others will be harvesting.
Proverbs 20:4: “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.”
We must occupy till Jesus comes. Whatever we do, we must do it with all our strength.
Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
In 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, we are taught to work in order to eat:
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.
The Bible does not encourage aimless wandering and loafing. It discourages disorderliness. To be idle is to be in idolatry! Those that do not work should not eat. You eat what you work for.
Adam was told he would eat from the sweat of his face. Work quietly and eat your own bread. Supply your needs with your own hands.
Paul told them that he had not coveted any man’s silver or gold. His hands worked for his needs. That is an example.
Be diligent in work. You don’t cut corners or do a shoddy patched up job. You finish to perfection what you start.
Proverbs 22:29: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings”
Only when you have perfected your talent and skills will they bring you before kings.
Use your time wisely.
Ephesians 5:16: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
You don’t waste hours scrolling when God gave you a task.
Slothfulness is not just about sleeping late and in physical business. God wants you to be diligent in spiritual matters. Do not be slothful while on God’s business. Your spirit must be fervent. Do not be cold and indifferent. Be up and doing. Do everything heartily and with zeal. Do this in the service of the Lord.
God rewards diligent seekers of Him.