Aug 14, 2011
Lazy-O’s
Posted by Michael Howarth in Gospel Living | Comments (0)
“The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!”
- Proverbs 19:24
I used to think this proverb was a little ridiculous. Have you ever gotten out a bowl, poured some cereal, added milk, sat down and then been too lazy to lift the spoon to your mouth? Me neither. However, as one would suspect (it is in the Bible after all), there is wisdom in this verse – and not just a little. What can this proverb tell us about ourselves?
You and I live at an incredible speed. Have you looked at your to-do list lately?...No? Well I have, and you are very busy. As for me, I actually fear owning a smartphone. I don' t want email and Facebook with me all the time. Too much social media scrambles my brain and I fear I would obsess...
Ok, I’m back. I had to check my Facebook. So, here is this proverb's question to us: What are the things you've brought into your life, perhaps with forethought and significant effort, that you only invest in superficially? You may not be so lazy as to leave a meal uneaten, but how many books have you purchased and never read? How many activities, groups or memberships have you committed to, that now get little or none of your attention? How many of your spouse's dreams go un-listened to? (...ouch)
Busyness does not equal productivity. Books do not read themselves. Spouses do not love themselves. To simply accumulate things is not an accomplishment. We need to take our time, hone our craft, invest and follow through, return to the basics when necessary, persevere, start something and finish it.
Keep in mind, I’m not saying that you should exhaust yourself in investing in everything around you, just the opposite: Be wise in what you invest your time, money and heart into. Be careful not to get sucked into so many things superficially that you don’t invest in anything deeply.
If you went through the trouble to get the bowl, pour the cereal and add milk, then why is your spoon sitting there?
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Posted by Michael Howarth in Gospel Living
