Laziness Is Not a Virtue but Rest and Righteousness Are
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Is it rest or laziness?
Have you ever felt guilty for taking a break from your work to daydream or relax in the middle of the day? I have. Why? Perhaps it's a cultural issue about using time wisely. “Time is money,” as the saying goes.
Years ago, I met a young couple from New Zealand while in transit at an airport in Hong Kong. They were on their way home after a temporary job in Minnesota and I was returning to the Philippines after a short furlough in the US.
I asked about their experience while in the US and their answer was revealing. They told me, “Americans don’t know how to rest or relax! They don’t stay home to get healthy when they’re sick and never seem to take their vacation time.” Having lived outside my home culture for several years, I knew this to be true.
Relaxing and laziness are not the same. God set aside one day a week for rest, but we often ignore this. God also gave us work, so we have a sense of purpose. But how many of us keep work and rest in a good balance?
The thought of being lazy is appealing when faced with the daily grind of life. Amid time demands and the tyranny of the urgent, we may daydream of taking a day to just do nothing.
But laziness as a lifestyle or a lazy approach to life—with no ambition or motivation—has an accumulative effect. Laziness becomes its own treadmill of dread with no jumping-off point. Laziness is not a virtue.
Childhood play is not laziness, nor is recreation or vacation for adults. There is a creative and restorative purpose in playing and having fun or taking time to rest. Much is written on the benefit of rest.
But laziness is neither play nor rest. At its best, it's apathy and slothfulness. At its worst, it is destructive and disruptive—for the lazy person and for those affected by their laziness.
Consider the following verses and perhaps read the whole context of these few verses.
Scripture
When the storm has passed, the wicked person has vanished,
but the righteous person has an everlasting foundation.
Like vinegar to the teeth, like smoke to the eyes,
so is the lazy person to those who send him on a mission.
The fear of the Lord lengthens the number of days,
but the years of wicked people are shortened. (Proverbs 10:25-27 GW)
(Context—Proverbs 10:21-32 GW)
Simple Insights
The proverb about laziness is quite descriptive—Like vinegar to the teeth, like smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy person... (Prov 10:26 GW)
If you've been around a campfire when the wind shifts and smoke blows in your eyes, you know how much it burns and how this lingers after you are out of the path of the smoke.
Vinegar has a distinct and lasting taste. If you've tasted bad wine, certain home remedies, or an oil and vinegar dressing with too much vinegar, you know the taste. Drinking water doesn't wash it all away—you need something sweet to counter the acrid, bitter, and sour taste left in your mouth.
How is this proverb of any value to our daily life?
Depending on someone who is lazy or does their work lazily is more than futile or frustrating. It leaves a bitter taste in our mouths that lingers. The burn of being let down by someone has a ripple effect.
It's easy to see this with others, but how about ourselves? We only fool ourselves when we make excuses or blame others for our own slackness in carrying out a task.
I've heard complaints from people who work with Christian believers who don't do their jobs well and excuse their poor work performance because they are "witnessing for the Lord." The trouble is, they are a poor example of Christianity and this leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of those who work with them.
Those of us who are people of faith—people who have chosen to follow Jesus—need to show excellence in the workplace, as well as with any task or service we do at church.
We also need to do whatever we do with a cheerful and gracious attitude. This honors the Lord and won't leave a bitter taste in anyone's mouth or heart.
It’s interesting how several contrasting statements frame this simple proverb about laziness by ones about the righteous and the wicked. Of course, it’s good to remember these proverbial statements are general truths, not absolutes (see the link for Study Guide for Proverbs below).
Still, the prevailing idea is clear—those who are righteous, who fear the Lord, have integrity, are dependable, and will be blessed because of their trust in the Lord. Whereas, the wicked—those who don’t trust in the Lord but go their own way—have a bleak and troubling way ahead of them.
Those who trust in the Lord honor His day of rest, but are also honorable in other ways. They are a blessing to those around them, unlike the lazy person.
Reflection—
If you are a person of faith and follower of Jesus, you are to be an honorable example in your workplace or any other place you serve others. Do so with a cheerful and gracious attitude so the Lord is honored and others are blessed by your presence.
Prayer Focus—
Ask God to show you where you might need to improve your effort at work or while serving in some ministry or church role. If the Lord shows you what you could do better, ask Him to show you how to make those necessary changes.
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