What Laziness and Complaining Earn!

Those who control their tongue will have a long life;
opening your mouth can ruin everything. Lazy people want much but get little,
but those who work hard will prosper. It’s better to live alone in the desert
than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.  Proverbs 13:3,4; 21:19,23 NLT

In the Bible (NLT) the word “lazy” occurs 25 times in 24 verses and “complaining” 10 times in 10 verses. In the environment in which we live–how often do we see the lazy and hear the complainers? Far too many times!

Whenever there is work to be done–those who love their beds more will seldom rise to get any accomplished before noon and then wonder why they don’t have time to get everything finished that they need to do. After waking late, they move slowly, and always easily distracted from the task at hand. When the day rolls away (time stops for no one), they complain they didn’t have time! Imagine that!

Procrastinators–those who keep putting things off are part of the lazy group. They always think they have more time than they have and put things off until the very last minute–sometimes missing important deadlines–and then they have the nerve to complain.

My favorite complaints are:

“I’m late because I missed my bus.”

“I didn’t do my homework because I couldn’t find my book.”

“I can’t get to work because I take the bus.”

“The dog ate my homework.”

“I got up late and didn’t have time to finish.”

“The store was closed by the time I got there.”

“These people get on my nerves. Why is this line so slow?”

Here’s what I’ve learned in the course of living. When I get up early, I have more time to do the things I need to do. When I go to bed early, I can get up early without complaining. On a day like today, with snow falling throughout the night–I got up earlier than my usual 5:30 a.m. to check to see if schools were closed and how much snow has to be moved. Today, schools are closed so my grandson gets to sleep in, but we will have to move snow once it stops. There have been days when we both got up and shoveled snow, got dressed and headed out because the schools were not closed.

Getting an early start on things–usually ends up with better results. I’ve never waited until the last minute to write a paper for a class and usually irritated classmates (with group projects) by starting as soon as the assignment is made. I usually make it to work at least 20 minutes to an hour before I have to be there because I hate rushing in at the last minute. I plan my day like I plan the novels I write–there is a strategy and when I keep to the strategy, things work. The old adage about “the early bird gets the worms” is true. The earlier I start a project, the greater the likelihood I’ll be pleased with the outcome.

There is one area in my life in which I wish I started earlier–living according to The Word–but then, I wouldn’t have learned some very valuable lessons that make me appreciate where I am today. God doesn’t have a problem with us making mistakes; He has a problem with us not learning from them. So, because of my early mistakes–and I have learned from them–I have a testimony about how good God is and how much He loves us.

It is because of my love for Him that I rise early every morning, get into His Word, talk to Him and write my blogs. It is because of Him that I can move out earlier enough to arrive before I need to be anywhere. It is because of Him that early-made-plans usually succeed beyond my expectations and it is because of Him, that I can say–I have no reason to complain.

I’m looking forward to the reward I’ve earned by controlling my tongue, getting an early start to complete any task and not complaining in the process. Those who are lazy and complain–will also get their just reward, but I don’t think they’re going to like it.

We all have a choice to make and I choose not to be: a doubting Dolly, a naysayer Nellie, or a last-minute Lolly. I choose to do all things–decently and in order–all to His glory!

 

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To Whom We Are Accountable!

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” (Hebrews 4:14 NLT)

Accountability–something that apparently many do not understand–having to give an account or explain our actions to someone.

When employees refuse to be accountable for their laxity on a job, they are usually fired and some become belligerent and some violent. They do not want to be held accountable for their laziness or lack of productivity.

When CEOs fail to make substantial profits for an entity, they are accountable to a governing board–hopefully–and many of them like to place blame for failing profits on someone else.

When children don’t do what they are supposed to do; especially in public settings, we–the general public–hold the parents accountable for the children’s actions which may not be the case.

When those who proclaim to be Christians–believing in all that God has said–do not “do what He says,” we are accountable–not to people, but to God! We have a responsibility to do all that God says within His Word–teach what He said, preach what He said, live like He said to live and love like He said to love. And when we see others who are not living according to His Word–we have a responsibility to speak up–admonish, instruct and correct–whether people like it or not. We are not accountable “to people” but we shall be accountable “for them” when we stand before God to give account for our actions in the earth.

It is that accountability to God that fuels me to say what God says and do what God says to do. It is that accountability that leads me to boldly speak (or write) whatever He puts on my heart to say to whomever He wants me to say it. God has not given us a spirit of fear that we should quake when He tells us what to say. He has given us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind so we have the courage to do all He instructs us to do.

Whether people want to hear God’s truth or not–we tell it.

Whether people want to read God’s truth or not–we write it.

Whether people know how to receive love or not–we love them.

The “we” I reference pertains to all who proclaim to be a follower of Christ–a child of the most High God–for we are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ nor do we shirk from our duties. We understand accountability and know that when we stand before Him on That Day–we will be without excuse and can blame no one for our laxity if we have not done all we could do.

We are accountable–so let no one–absolutely no one–attempt to make you feel that you should proclaim the Gospel, wherever you go, for they will not be held accountable for what we do–we will and to God only!

Why God, Why?

Why does God allow certain things to happen to people?

I seriously do not have an answer for every specific thing that happens to people; only God knows why He does what He does. If I had the answers, I’d never have to be concerned about anything else in life. But then, God wants us to seek Him for answers, and not one another.

A follower on Twitter posed the situation to me:  He said, “My wife had a heart attack and died in front of our year and half baby. Why did God allow that to happen?”

My response to him was this: I don’t know why God allows things to happen to people. My brother was killed by my mother and I suffered from the event, but the same event brought me into relationship with God and now–not only can I have joy in my life, but I can encourage others. God knows what He’s doing and all things will work out for our good. Just trust Him!

While some may not agree with my response, I know without a doubt that it was the best response I could give Him. All too often many try to explain why God does things when they don’t know any more than anyone else. God is God. He doesn’t have to explain Himself to us and He certainly does not need our permission to do anything.

However, there are some things in life that we do to ourselves that bring about certain consequences. If we are not conscious about our physical health and how we treat our bodies, we put ourselves into position to suffer the consequences of–heart attack, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, etc. If we are not conscious of how we treat others, we will suffer the consequences of depression, loneliness, and other mental illnesses. Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, tobacco use, lack of exercise, overeating, unprotected sexual activity, and just plain meanness can create situations that cause us harm and could lead to death. Let’s face it, if we would simply read and understand The Word, follow the instructions, and know God’s voice and obey, we could avoid a lot of negative stuff occurring in our lives. It’s all in there–we just need to know what “it” is and live to the glory of God!

Father, in the name of Jesus, give us understanding of how to treat our bodies–the temple where Holy Spirit lives and how to live to Your glory. Comfort the hearts of those who have lost loved ones and guide them in their grief to You, as only You can. Pour onto us Your wisdom so we may encourage one another to endure to the end and finish this race, in life.