Lazy Procrastination - Consider the Ant and Avoid Devoid of Understanding Patterns
Explore the wisdom of scriptures in Proverbs regarding lazy procrastination, the importance of diligence, and the consequences of neglecting responsibilities. Reflect on the lessons offered through the metaphor of the ant and the folly of procrastination to avoid falling into patterns devoid of understanding. Consider the exhortations to wake from slumber, be diligent like the ant, and shun excuses to prevent poverty and need from overtaking your life.
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Presentation Transcript
2 Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: This people says, The time has not come, the time that the LORD s house should be built. 3Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to liein ruins? 5Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways! (Haggai 1)
Ive finally found something I m good at.
Lazy Procrastination Consider the ant Proverbs 6:6-11
6Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.
9How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 6)
Lazy Procrastination Consider the ant Proverbs 6:6-11 Devoid of understanding Pro. 24:30-34
30 I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; 31 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; 34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 24)
Lazy Procrastination Consider the ant Proverbs 6:6-11 Devoid of understanding Pro. 24:30-34 With excuses Proverbs 26:13-16
13The lazy mansays, There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion isin the streets! 14As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed.
15 The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. 16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26)
Lazy Procrastination Consider the ant you sluggard A man devoid of understanding With excuses
Wrong Priorities Like the Jews Haggai 1:2-5
2 Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: This people says, The time has not come, the time that the LORD s house should be built. 3Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to liein ruins? 5Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways! (Haggai 1)
Wrong Priorities Like the Jews Haggai 1:2-5 Earthly treasures Matthew 6:19-21
19Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6)
Wrong Priorities Like the Jews Haggai 1:2-5 Earthly treasures Matthew 6:19-21 Man over God Matthew 6:24
24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6)
Wrong Priorities Like the Jews Haggai 1:2-5 Earthly treasures Matthew 6:19-21 Man over God Matthew 6:24 Seek first - Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6)
Wrong Priorities Like the Jews, putting self first Earthly treasures, not heavenly Man over God Seek first the kingdom of God
Other Problems Fear/ignorance Matthew 25:24-25
24Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. (Matthew 25)
Other Problems Fear/ignorance Matthew 25:24-25 About consequences Matt. 25:26-28
26But his lord answered and said to him, You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. (Matthew 25)
Other Problems Fear/ignorance Matthew 25:24-25 About consequences Matt. 25:26-28 Miscalculation of time Matt. 25:10-12
10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! 12But he answered and said, Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you. (Matthew 25)
Other Problems Fear/ignorance Matthew 25:24-25 About consequences Matt. 25:26-28 Miscalculation of time Matt. 25:10-12 Negligence James 4:13-17
13Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit ; 14whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
15Instead you oughtto say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4)
Other Problems Fear/ignorance About consequences Miscalculation of time Negligence
Lessons We Can Learn Time to start Nehemiah 2:17
17Then I said to them, You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach. (Nehemiah 2)
Lessons We Can Learn Time to start Nehemiah 2:17 Have a mind to work Nehemiah 4:6
6So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height,for the people had a mind to work. (Nehemiah 4)
Lessons We Can Learn Time to start Nehemiah 2:17 Have a mind to work Nehemiah 4:6 Do what we can Matthew 25:14-19
14For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
16Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord s money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (Matthew 25)
Lessons We Can Learn Time to start Nehemiah 2:17 Have a mind to work Nehemiah 4:6 Do what we can Matthew 25:14-19 Do it now Acts 22:16; 9:18
16And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22) 18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. (Acts 9)
Lessons We Can Learn Time to start (nothing happens until we start) Have a mind to work Do what we can Do it now
We offer many excuses for NOT doing things we should do; don t know how, don t want the responsibility, not convenient, afraid, and many more. But there are often consequences to our procrastination and even eternal consequences if we fail to obey God.
Are you putting off truly obeying the gospel, or living for Christ every day, excusing yourself in different ways? Nothing good happens until we start; no forgiveness, no hope of heaven. Won t you start for heaven today?
