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Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

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  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

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BAC Sermons

Saga of the Sorry Sluggard

2003-03-01 Proverbs 24:30-34; 26:13-16

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Hebrews 6:12  That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

7. SLOTH is the desire for ease, even at the expense of doing the known will of God. Whatever we do in life requires effort. Everything we do is to be a means of salvation The slothful person is unwilling to do what God wants because of the effort it takes to do it. There is such a thing as weariness in well-doing. Sloth becomes a sin when it slows down and even brings to a halt the energy we must expend in using the means to salvation. Sloth is mainly psychological. Sloth and laziness are not the same thing as fatigue. We need a break and relaxation from work. But we give in to Sloth when we are unwilling to pay the price of exertion in doing what reason and faith tell us Gods wants us to do.  Catholic Catechism http://www.slothwerks.com/SlothSin.html

 
Remedies for Sloth are frequent reflections on the harm it causes, by developing the habits of punctuality, prudent planning, and meditation on divine justice in rewarding human effort and punishing laziness in the service of God.

I. Looking at the Sluggard's Pattern of Procrastination

A. False _________________ for inactivity 26:13 The slothful man says a lion in the way; a lion in the streets. 

He has all kinds of excuses for putting things off: I've tried it before.  I've never tried it before.  It might not work. It might work in an unexpected manner.  It's too hard.

B. False ________________ without accomplishment 26:14 As the door turns upon his hinges, so the slothful upon his bed.  

Thinks activity is a substitute for achievement.

C. False ________________ without completion 26:15 The slothful hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.  Starts but never finishes.

D. False ________________ without rational base 26:16 The sluggard’s wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. Rationalizes every failure.

II. Lacks of the Sluggard

A. Wisdom 6:6-11 "Go to the ant ... observe and be wise'

 (Wisdom = choosing the right_____________ and the right ______________ of attaining them.) {Enthusiastic Passion}

B. Fear of the Lord 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom ,and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 

Need to develop an internal motivation to take advantage of opportunities. {embrace eternal realities, like judgment and reward}

C. Humility 26:12 Do you a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason  Humility is a proper, realistic view of ourselves in relation to God (dependent creatures) and others (servant), that allows us to enthusiastically embrace God’s sovereign will (obedience) and focus on serving others’ needs (without thought of our temporal loss or benefit), resulting in deepened intimacy and blessing.

D. Understanding 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.  Ps 111:10 the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments {Truth or Consequences}

E. Faithfulness 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so the sluggard to them that send him. {Time is the interval...}

F. Diligence 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. {2Pt 1 add to your faith}

G. Uprightness 15:19 The way of the slothful [man is] as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous [is] made plain.

H. Initiative 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold,- [therefore] shall he begs in harvest, and have nothing.

I. Righteousness 21:25-26 The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labor. 26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous gives...

III.  Learning from the Sluggard's Process of Poverty

A.      Observation - "Saw" "Looked"

B.      Interpretation - "Applied heart (reflected)"

C.      Application  - "Received instruction"

"A little _________________ leads to a large ______________.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Life Response:

1. Do the "little things" make a large difference?  Was the sluggard neglecting "little things"?

2. Why is laziness sin?  What effect does laziness have on us? Others? God?

3. Are the 'lacks" in #II. (above) causes or consequences?

4. Can one be lazy by busily doing the wrong things? Why?