Living for God is a hard job. He'll accept anyone who's willing to work with Him, but the work expected of us can seem overbearing at times. God has set the expectations for us through the example of His son, Jesus. We are expected to love one another and to help each other along in this lifestyle of Christianity, but sometimes it just seems easier to live in the world. Sometimes it's just easier to go with the natural flow of our sinful natures.

Galatians 6:8-10 says, "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people . . . "

Although sometimes it can seem hard to live only for God, it is well worth the effort. I've been blessed over and over again when I'm giving my life to God and although it is a sacrifice, God gives me this joy that extends beyond my own understanding. It's a peace that stays calm in all circumstances and it makes my life easier knowing that God has given me peace of mind.

Lord, please let your holy spirit awaken my lazy eyes so that I can see the truth and know that your way is right. I know that I've sinned and have fallen short of your expectations. Please keep this joy in my heart so that I might glorify you through my actions. I love you Lord, amen.

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Silas, Timothy, and Paul warned the people not to live idle lives, but to work hard day and night so they would not be a burden to others. He stated, "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat," and to those who did follow his example, "As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good".

I was raised to depend on myself and not on others for my livelihood, to always do my best and not to take advantage of others. To this day I don't look for someone to give me something without doing what is right by him or her. When doing a job, I try to do it correctly to the satisfaction of others. I recall my most loved job where I was part of a team that made a product that was sent on for final production. Our team of six always worked together and gave our best in making a product that would not be rejected. If that meant working without a break to get it right, we did. Most of the time because we monitored the product very closely, things ran smoothly, but on occasion we would have a day of a lot of adjusting and fixing. On those days, we would go home tired, hungry, sweaty, and dirty, working a day with little or no break. I always slept well at night knowing I had given my job my best. I don't work there any longer, but on occasion I see those former bosses and we are always glad to see each other. The sense of self-assurance is important to me. I believe if person is physically able they should support themselves and not use the charities for those who are less fortunate. I also feel it is equally important to use God for our direction in life, in and out of the workplace and His satisfaction of what we do.

Proverbs 13: 4~ Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.

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Indolence wants it all and gets nothing; the energetic have something to show for their lives. (Proverbs 13:4)
Before we go any further, I think we need to figure out what indolence is. Dictionary.com defines an indolent person as one who is habitually lazy because of a dislike of work. This verse, then, tells us that the lazy man--the one who sits idly by and dreams of greater things--will only continue to dream as long as their dreams are accompanied only by inaction.

Dreaming is a wonderful thing. As children, we are taught to dream, constantly reading fairy tales and playing imaginary game in the yard. As we get older, dreaming drives us--motivates us--and gives us a sense of purpose to what we are doing. When the dreamer sits idly by, however, the habit of dreaming becomes harmful. While dreaming can incite action which accomplishes our dreams, dreaming without action is--as my great-grandmother used to say--like sitting in a rocking chair: it gives you something to do, but doesn't really get you anywhere.

God knows our dreams. He planted them inside us, and longs to see us happy through the fulfillment of those dreams. What we often don't recognize, though, are the means God will use to make them a reality in our lives. While the dreams themselves are very much desired, the things we have to do to get there are sometimes unappealing. God knows this, and often uses the sometimes unpleasant things in our lives to bring about the things we want most. God's funny that way, and we should try to always be open to what He might be doing...and always keep our eyes on our dreams.

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Work. Sometimes it is a dirty word to me. The longer I have had my job, the harder it is for me to get motivated to get up and go to work; it seems like it gets harder and harder to wake up and go to work with every passing day. I have been working since I was 14 years old. I was taught that if I wanted anything and that if I was going to amount to anything, I needed to work. I like to think that I would be considered a hard worker that takes pride in my job.

When a person works hard, they are usually rewarded. Sometimes the rewards don't come as quickly as we would like, or sometimes they don't come in the manner that we would like, such as a promotion or a raise, but the fruits of our labor can be seen in other ways. While I would like a promotion, I have come to see that it is more rewarding to be respected by my peers and to have their support for the job that I do. There are days when I forget this, and let my emotions get the better of me, but having their respect is a reward for doing a good job and working hard.

However, the work ethic that I possess in the real world does not follow me home at the end of the day. I like to sit down, relax, and play on the computer. I don't do my share of the chores like I should. While at work, I feel that I am bringing glory to God by doing my job to the best of my ability. While at home, that is a different story.

The Book of Proverbs is full of verses that condemn laziness and tell of the pitfalls of laziness. I am guilty of getting mad when I see someone who is able to work, yet appears too lazy to do so. Am I right for being mad when I see laziness around me? The bible clearly states that laziness is not what God desires. Among other verses, I have found two in Proverbs that show that laziness is not a trait that God desires. These are found in Proverbs 13:4 and Proverbs 20:4.

I know that I need to bring the same sort of work ethic home and do my fair share. If not, relationships with loved ones will fail, and that may ultimately lead to a failed relationship with God. God put work into his plan from the beginning, as indicated in Genesis 2:15. We should constantly work so that we do not become idle and lazy.

Since I have begun my walk of faith, I have tried to make everything I do bring glory to God. At work, this is fairly simple for me to do. At home, where I feel I am the master of my domain, I struggle with this. Why do I work so hard at my paying job, but I sometimes neglect my family and home life? I think that sometimes when I read Proverbs, I feel that they only apply to a work, as in a job. I need to realize that they apply to my personal life as well. The Bible teaches people to work hard at anything you do, and the rewards will be great. Laziness is not a trait that brings joy to God, and I need to remember that I shouldn't be complacent in any area of my life that requires "work."

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