Mr. Ramzi Adcock: “Hard Work and Laziness” (Proverbs 6)
Another in the series of sermons on the Book of Proverbs being preached at Jesmond Parish Church in the United Kingdom is Hard Work and Laziness, by Mr. Ramzi Adcock. This sermon is based on Proverbs 6, and Mr. Adcock makes crystal clear what this passage tells us about the deleterious effects of laziness on us: the waste of our time and resources, leading to disaster and dissatisfaction. And this is true both in our secular work and our spiritual lives; he gives us sound advice about avoiding sloth spiritually:
We are called to work hard spiritually too. The work we do does not save us, but the principle is true that we reap what we sow. So how do we avoid ‘spiritual laziness’?
1. Don’t put things off. If you know the conviction of Holy Spirit in an area of your life then act now. Do something about it and do it now. Maybe for example you know that there is someone you need to seek forgiveness from, or offer forgiveness to so that your relationship can be renewed. Do not put it off.
The ultimate form of spiritual laziness is to put off trusting him. Maybe you know that you are not right in his sight, but you will not humble yourself and ask him to forgive you because of what Jesus has done. Well do not put it off – because more than anything else the results are eternal separation from him.
2. Show perseverance. It is easy when we see no instant results to give up. After battling with a sin, or realising that the Christian life is harder than you expected it is easy to feel like giving up. Look at the example of the sluggard. Learn from the example of the Ant. Keep running the race.
3. Let us not make excuses. We do not have to hide who we are from our Father. He knows the depth of our sin and yet he sent Jesus to die on the cross for us. As we see our sin – let us not make excuses. Come back to him, repent of our laziness. Don’t hide behind excuses. And trust in his promise to forgive you and change you.
This is definitely sound counsel, to say the least, and I think Mr. Adcock has done well in his exposition of these verses–see what you think.
Very sound.
And so back to work.