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Busy or Lazy - What's Holding You Back?Most of us would not consider ourselves lazy; if anything, we’re too busy. We picture a lazy person lying on a couch watching TV and eating junk food; but that is a very inaccurate stereotype. Not all lazy people are sitting around doing nothing. We need to adjust the picture. Sometimes busyness is our way of avoiding the work that needs to be done in our lives – it can be used as a front for our laziness. If we can hear that hard truth, we can make important changes in our life. No, we are not “sluggard lazy”. But are we selectively lazy? Here is a definition of selective laziness: When comfort wins over effort, and I fail to do the right thing. When something difficult or uncomfortable needs to be done, isn’t it amazing how we suddenly grow a list of things to do that will get in front of what should be done! (Anything – as long as I don’t have to do that!) Selective laziness keeps us from living the fulfilled life that God intends and insulates us from spiritual transformation. It minimizes the importance of relationships, wounds marriages, destroys families, and hurts friendships. “In fact, when you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil.” “Can you play with me, Dad?” Answer: “In a few minutes.” Always in a few minutes. Or you’re Supermom, never slowing down enough to deal with the brokenness that’s driving you to be super. Or you’re a single adult with time, talent and treasure, but you’re always waiting for something better to come and won’t commit yourself to anything. How can we change those scenarios? Care about God’s bigger picture. God’s bigger picture is the gift of choice. We’re not trapped! We are the managers of our life. God has given us the choice of what to do with our time, talent and treasure. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of the talents: Three servants were given resources according to their gifting. One got 5 bags of gold, one got 2 bags, and one received 1 bag. The master goes away and tells the servants to care for the gold He gave them. While the Master was gone, the first two doubled their gold, returning to their Master 10 bags and 4 bags. To both of those men the Master says: “Well done! You were faithful in a few things, and I will put you in charge of many things.” They both used the resources they were given. The third servant had hid his one bag of gold because he was afraid of losing it. When he brings that one bag back to the Master, the Master says to him, “You wicked, lazy servant!” “To those who use well what they are given even more will be given This story is played out in our lives as we use (or hide) what God has given us. People always want to do the big things, not understanding that it’s the faithfulness in little things that gets us there. That’s how it works. Our everyday responsibilities and problems are opportunities to make a difference – to invest our “gold”! Using our time, talent & treasure for God’s purpose takes effort - at times uncomfortable effort. But God will bless it. Care about the gift of today. Every day is a gift from God. We can lose our todays by regretting yesterdays or fearing tomorrows. Don’t waste time with, “Oh, I wish….” Do we mess up? Yes. That’s what grace & forgiveness are for. Confess it and be thankful that God uses you. And when you do make a difference, celebrate! The gold has always been His – and we have the honor to use it for His purposes! All of us have the gift of today. We have all been given “talents”. ______________________________ Application Questions Think about your daily life. Do you always seem too busy? Are you managing your life - or allowing it to carry you along? What one “uncomfortable” thing have you been putting off - that you know should be done with your time, or your talent or your treasure? You can do it! Make a choice today, and change what might be needed to see that it’s done. You can listen to the message: "Busy or Lazy"
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