Mike’s Musings …
Lazy or Tired?
“People observation” is a remarkably interesting hobby if I may call it such. I’m not speaking of their appearance (although that often does cause some musing). I’m speaking of their abilities. It amazes me how some people in their 80s are much more energetic and active than those in their 40s. Since that criterion places me somewhere on the top side of the middle, I’m extremely interested in how some more than twenty years my senior have the physical abilities that I gave up twenty years past! Frankly, watching them sometimes makes me feel very lazy … or is it that I’m just tired?
The inspired apostle said, “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13) A dear friend of mine in Illinois states it this way, “Be not weary in well doing … Just be weary well!” I like that! It shows that we can’t be lazy, but we can get tired!
“Slothful” as the KJV renders the word, means, “lazy.” The Hebrew writer condemns slothfulness when he wrote, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12) Eleven times the word is found in the book of Proverbs, and each time it is condemned! One of Solomon’s most poignant statements on the subject states, “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” (Proverbs 18:9) Yes, laziness is simply not caring enough to care! Read that again and compare it to Solomon’s words of Proverbs 19:24: “A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.”
The difference is that a lazy soul just doesn’t care, but a soul that is tired, even exhausted, will find a way to care and at least attempt the complete the needed work. Even Jesus grew tired (John 4:6). But read the context of that chapter. Did Jesus still use the opportunity to do good? Indeed! And likewise, we must never grow weary in well doing. Being tired is fine, and rest is appropriate. But never confuse the two: one will refresh you, the other condemn you!
I muse on the fact that many who are well into the three-score year and ten years are still ready, willing, and able – yea, eager to do whatever they can to keep busy, especially in the realm of serving the Master. Many of them put us younger folks to shame! An old wise adage says, “We can rest when the work is done.” Indeed! Revelation 14:13 grants that promise to the faithful. Until then, let none of us be lazy. Let us be refreshed from a little physical rest that invigorates us to be busier for Christ with all we say and do!