Laziness for the ‘Type A’ crowd

In the movie “Groundhog Day,” the main character was stuck reliving the same day over and over again. He is totally aware of what he does from one day to the next, but everyone else is living the day for the first time no matter how often he relives it.

At one point he determined to change his arrogant and caustic ways, and attempted to win the affections of his producer (he is a TV weatherman). The problem was that no matter how charming and sincere and loving he was, the next morning he had to start from scratch; his producer started each day thinking he was the same arrogant prima donna. He simply could not make any progress that would carry over to the next day. 

In this week’s counsel by Solomon, he admonishes the lazy person by illustrating their lack of progress from one day to the next – “As the door swings on its hinges, so does the lazy one on their bed.”

A door serves a purpose, but no matter how often it swings back and forth on its hinges, it never gets anywhere. In the same way the lazy one never gets anywhere while tossing and turning in their bed. The implication is that even if this person did get out of bed, they would still make no progress – they are essentially anchored to their ways just as the door is anchored to the wall.

As always, we must be very careful to not apply these admonitions to other people before we apply it to ourselves. Laziness manifests itself in many ways. You can be a “Type A” personality that never stops, but still remains lazy if, in your busyness, you avoid what is necessary. 

In my past, I owned and operated an insurance agency, while I also was the pastor of a small church. I would at times go to the office, shuffle papers, organize my files, and answer my emails and voicemails, but if I didn’t make the phone calls to ask people for their business, I was being lazy by avoiding what is necessary to keep an income coming. 

If the “Type A” personality makes a large income because of his or her proficiency on the job, but avoids spending time with his or her spouse and family, that could also be considered as being lazy in what is the most important and necessary aspect of their life.

As a pastor, I am constantly pounding home the vital nature for my congregation to read, study, meditate on, memorize and apply Scripture. For a believer to ignore this essential discipline in their relationship with God and His Word is another example of laziness.

I hear it all the time; “I wish I knew the Bible like you do.” My answer is always, “You can know the Bible as well as I do, or better.” It’s not a hidden secret; you simply have to put in the time and effort. 

You have to set the time aside regularly and get down to business. You have to listen to the Bible when traveling around in your car. You have to consistently sit under the teaching and preaching of God’s Word, and, dare I say in our electronic age, you actually have to pick up an actual-paper-and-ink copy of the Bible and read it.

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.