Have you ever met a lazy person? Some years ago, a woman
said to me, “I think my son has a “spirit of laziness.”
Personally, I do not subscribe to the "spirit (demon) behind every bush" theology. Many times we attach the word "spirit" to something, when in reality the problem is an attitude, a fleshly issue or a negative stronghold in our lives.
The Bible does indeed identify at least several "spirits." Let me name a few:
Spirit of
heaviness (depression)--Isaiah 61:3
Spirit of
holiness--Romans 1:4
Spirit of
bondage--Romans 8:15
Spirit of
slumber (the result of hardened hearts)--Romans 11:8
Spirit of
meekness--1 Corinthians 4:21
Spirit of
faith--2 Corinthians 4:13
Spirit of
wisdom--Ephesians 1:17
Spirit of
fear--2 Timothy 1:7
Spirit of
truth and the Spirit of error--1 John 4:6
Used in these contexts, the word "spirit" refers
to an outside spiritual influence that attaches itself to the soul of a
person--his mind, will and emotions. These can be either positive or
negative. They are spiritual influences that "hold on" and
which become strongholds.
A stronghold by definition is a system of thinking,
attitudes, beliefs and expectations that develop over a period of time.
To summarize, a "spirit" involves an external force, while a
stronghold builds from within a person. One does, however, feed into the
other. Both attach themselves to the soul of a person. Remember,
the Christian life is played out on the battlefield of the mind. (FYI…there are
of course, positive strongholds, too).
Take a few minutes to read Proverbs 6:1-15. The
preacher talks about the lazy person, or the sluggard. Let me single out
verses 3-5. "Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; since
you have come into the hand of your neighbor, go humble yourself, and importune
your neighbor. Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids;
deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand and like a bird from the
hand of the fowler."
What is he saying? Notice three very important phrases
here: "deliver yourself," "humble yourself," and
again "deliver yourself." In other words, take
responsibility for your actions and habits. Years ago Chuck Swindoll
wrote, "Sow a thought, reap an attitude. Sow an attitude, reap a
habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a
destiny." We are responsible not for the thoughts that knock on our
mind gate, but for what we do with those thoughts.
Laziness is a choice. People choose to become lazy.
Some spirit named "LAZY" does not attach itself to anyone. Lazy people, through their own volition, make
a choice to be lazy. They need to be renewed in the "spirit
of (their) mind" (Romans 12:2). In other words, they need to
re-train their mind to be productive and to develop a strong work ethic.
Let's go back to Proverbs 6. Verses 9-11 say, "How
long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to
rest--Your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed
man."
Laziness is a personal choice, not a spirit. The
Apostle Paul was rather hard on laziness when he told the believers in
Thessalonica, "...if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not
to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an
undisciplined life, doing no work at all..." (2 Thessalonians 3:10-11).
In this case, laziness was not a spirit, but an attitude.
Freeloaders have been around a long time!
Lazy people need to re-think their position, change their
attitude, make a character adjustment and get up from the couch! In
closing, sometimes it takes harsh circumstances to get through to some people.
Ask the prodigal son, who after spending his inheritance, found out that
corn husks and pig pens are everything they're cracked up to be!
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