THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LAZY CHRISTIAN

"Faithful ministers of the word are laborious ones..." - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
"I laboured more abundantly than they all...This is a sober fact as shown by the Acts and Paul's Epistles. He had tremendous energy and used it. Genius is work, Carlyle said. Take Paul as a specimen." - Robertson's Word Pictures
"We must give account how we have spent our time, how we have improved our opportunities, what we have done and how we have done it." - Matthew Henry

Romans 12:11 says - "Not slothful in business..."
Hebrews 6:11-12 says - "...show the same diligence...That ye be not slothful..."

Martin Luther spoke these words - "in regard to zeal be not lazy." These words were in keeping with the Holy Scriptures which admonish all believers to not be slow, idle, or destitute of promptness of mind and activity - but rather to be intense, faithful, and industrious in the discharging of their duties. They are to value their time and be conscientious in the improvement of each moment. They must exhibit a strenuous effort...ardor and zeal...and perseverance in diligence when doing their "business" for the Lord.

There is a Day of Reckoning approaching. The Scriptures confirm this truth -

Matthew 16:27 says - "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels...He shall reward every man according to his works."
Romans 2:6 says - "Who will render to every man according to his deeds."
Romans 14:12 says - "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."
2 Corinthians 5:10 says - "...that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done..."
Revelation 22:12 says - "And, behold, I come quickly...to give every man according as his work shall be."

Jesus is coming to reward the faith and holiness of His people - to recompense them for the whole of their conduct - their thoughts, principles, plans, purposes, motives, words, and actions. They will give an account for how they spent their time and how they improved every opportunity that came their way.

Hence, laziness and idleness among Christians should never be tolerated. There is much work to be done. The Christian walk is an active, diligent labor for the Lord. God's grace is available to accomplish the Kingdom work. And the lifestyle of "ease in Zion" is not acceptable to a Holy & Righteous Father, Judge, and Lord.

Barnes' Notes made this statement in confirmation - "An idle man and a Christian are names which do not harmonize. Every Christian has enough to do to occupy all his time; and he whose life is spent in ease and in doing nothing, should doubt altogether his religion. God has assigned us much to accomplish; and He will hold us answerable for the faithful performance of it."

Using great plainness of speech, Adam Clarke adds - "An idle, slothful person can never be a Christian."

Let's look into the Scriptures and see what the Word itself says about the life of the believer.

Is it a life of ease and comfort or diligence and hard work?

Using 5 verbs, we will attempt to give you a picture of the Christian walk. You will see that the Word of God speaks for itself.

1. Fight

Matthew 11:12 says - "...the violent take it by force."
1 Corinthians 9:26 says - "so fight I, not as one that beateth the air."
2 Corinthians 10:3 says - "...we do not war after the flesh."
Ephesians 6:12 says - "...wrestle...against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
1 Timothy 1:18 says - "...according to the prophecies which went before on thee...war a good warfare."
1 Timothy 6:12 says - "Fight the good fight of faith..."
2 Timothy 4:7 says - "I have fought a good fight..."
Hebrews 11:34 says - "...waxed valiant in fight..."
Zechariah 10:5 says - "...and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them..."

The Christian life is a constant conflict or warfare with Satan and the ranks of evil powers...with the world filled with evil men and lusts... and with the corruptions of one's own heart. In other words, it is a fight against inward and outward enemies.

2. Strive

Luke 13:24 says - "Strive to enter in at the strait gate..."
1 Corinthians 9:25 says - "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things..."
Hebrews 12:4 says - "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."

The Christian life entails striving...agonizing...putting forth all powers to gain the victory. It requires the believer to be diligent... active...and in earnest as he contends with every enemy and presses through every difficulty. Sin is personified as one of the greatest adversaries. Hence, the child of God is commanded to strive manfully and perseveringly against sin in every form.

3. Labor

John 6:27 says - "Labor...for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life..."
Galatians 4:11 says - "...I have bestowed upon you labor in vain."
1 Corinthians 15:10 says - "...I labored more abundantly than they all..."
2 Corinthians 5:9 says - "Wherefore we labor..."
2 Corinthians 6:5 says - "...in labors..."
2 Corinthians 11:23 says - "...in labors more abundant..."
Colossians 1:29 says - "Whereunto I also labor..."
Philippians 2:12 says - "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
Philippians 2:16 says - "neither labored in vain."
1 Thessalonians 3:5 says - "...our labor be in vain."
Revelation 2:3 says - "...and for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted."

The Christian life calls for the believer to exert himself...be ambitious... labor in the word and doctrine...preach often, everywhere, and at all risks...use tremendous energy...and labor with so much heart, success, utmost zeal, and earnestness.

4. Run

1 Corinthians 9:26 says - "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly..."
Galatians 2:2 says - "...lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain."
Philippians 2:16 says - "...that I have not run in vain..."
Hebrews 12:1 says - "...let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

The Christian life is likened to a race. The believer is exhorted in the Word to run his race with cheerfulness and swiftness...exert himself to the utmost...sparing no effort...with self-denial, vehemence, and vigor... not allowing himself to be hindered by any obstruction or impediment... and moving forward - from strength to strength and one degree of grace to grace.

Matthew Henry explained it in this way - "Those that would go to heaven must take pains, must strive against the stream, must press against the crowd that are going the contrary way."

5. Finish

Luke 16:16 says - "...and every man presseth into it."
John 4:34 says - "...and to finish His work."
Acts 13:25 says - "And as John fulfilled his course..."
Acts 20:24 says -"...that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry..."
2 Timothy 4:7 says - "...I have finished my course..."

The Christian life is comparable to a course. With strength, courage, agility, patience, and perseverance, the believer must go on in his work. Though he encounter difficulties, obstacles, and discouragement along the way, he must continue to press hard to the "finishing line" - with much force and violence; eagerness and endeavor. At all times he must be diligent - bearing fatigue and any hardships as he seeks the salvation of others.

5 verbs give you a picture of the Christian walk - Fight...Strive...Labor...Run...and Finish.

They can all be summed up in one word - Work!

There is much work to be done in the Kingdom.

You and I were called to work for the Master.

Remember what Adam Clarke said - "An idle, slothful person can never be a Christian."

Matthew Henry added - "...for we were not sent into the world to be idle..."

There is no such thing as a Lazy Christian!

What kind of Christian are you?

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved

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