Proverbs 31:27, Amplified Bible

“She looks well to how things go in her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.”

Some young people joked about me as having OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) while I was still living in my homeland. They came to my house, having a snack before Bible study. I requested them to use a tissue or plate and be careful not to drop the crumbs on the floor. I admitted that I enjoy a clean and tidy house to live in, yet cleaning is not my favorite labor. However, if I prefer a clean house, then I need to discipline myself to do the work. This is different from the Salvation of Jesus Christ. He freely gives and we receive His grace and are cleansed. This is something that requires work and self-discipline. If I wanted to have a good school report, I studied. If I want to be able to drive, I practice.  If I like to be healthy, I make good decisions about what I eat, and I exercise. I do not mean “no pain, no gain”; what I mean is word without work is not going to accomplish anything.

“Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” (Proverbs 6:6-11, NLT)

Throughout the Word of God, there are times mentioned about laziness. The underlying reason may be a lack of vision, loss of focus, or having no knowledge of what they are doing… One example is written in 1 Timothy 5:13 (ESV), “Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.”

We are called to be Christ followers, not Christians’ inspectors. The time and life given by the Lord is not for us to idle or mind others about what they do or not do.

We are called to action, one organization that I know by name is “Talk Is Cheap”. If we desire to be Christ followers, it starts right where we are, just like the Proverbs 31 wife/mom. Jesus does not tell you that He demonstrated His love by saying it; He went through the walk to Calvary, He went through the nails on the cross, and He rose! His Word also instructs us: “Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion.” (Romans 12:11, GNT)

So, sisters in Christ, it is time, especially for such a time as this: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” and become one! (Matthew 9:37-38, ESV)