“The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied.” (Proverbs 13:4, HCSB)

The “slacker” is a sluggish, lazy person. They crave things, but lack the work ethic needed to reap any kind of harvest. The slacker has the opportunity to invest in order to have what he craves; he just chooses not to make that investment. Let’s not get carried away. Certainly, there are people that find themselves in need due to circumstances beyond their control. An illness, or corporate downsizing, or a sudden downturn in the economy can wreck havoc on people. But, this proverb speaks to those capable of doing for themselves, but their own laziness prevents them from doing so.

“The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.” (Proverbs 12:11, HCSB)  I remember reading the old fable about the ant and the grasshopper. The ant spent his summer scurrying about collecting food and storing it while the grasshopper spent the summer days doing nothing. When winter came, the ant was warm and well-fed, but the grasshopper was starving and freezing.

The church can become just as unproductive as the slacker. We can sit around, talk about what we should do, or wait for a more appropriate time. In the end, we accomplish nothing. We’ve wasted precious time and resources. Look, we may not know what ministry will be like post-Covid. We could wait until things get back to normal. We may, in fact, face a new normal. Why should we waste time? Let’s look for opportunities to serve now. Let’s work the “land” God has given us now, and let Him be the One that blesses our labor.

Remember the words of our Lord,

““Lord,” Peter asked, “are You telling this parable to us or to everyone?” The Lord said: “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food at the proper time? That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded. I tell you the truth: He will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and starts to beat the male and female slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk, that slave’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. But the one who did not know and did things deserving of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:41–48, HCSB)

 

Dr. Frankie Clark