“We often miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work”
― Thomas A. Edison
When I’m asked what I do for a living and I reply that I’m a teacher of middle and high school students, I often hear a sigh. The questioner will often follow with something like, “I don’t know how you do it!” I smile and often say, “It’s never dull,” and that’s the truth. I have seen and heard so many amazing, odd, funny and unusual things my students have said or done, I could write a whole book on just these things.
For example, one time I was giving a test and I noticed that a girl in the second row to my right was frowning and not working. I asked her what the problem was and she said, “I’m trying to work but the chapped lips on this boy in front of me are crackling so much, I can’t concentrate.” I stared at her, my mouth falling open; I didn’t know how to reply to this.
Another time, we were discussing a few Caesars of the Roman Empire. I noticed to my left a girl who seemed to be fidgeting a lot. I kept watch out of the corner of my eye and had to pause our discussion. The girl was changing her clothes during class! She was putting on a pair of pants under her skirt and afterward, took the skirt off. I asked her why she was doing this in my classroom and she said she didn’t want to wear a skirt for the rest of the day.
Another time, a heard another teacher lament that he had one of the laziest boys in the school in his classroom. The boy turned in a test at the end of the class period with no
questions answered. When the teacher asked him why he didn’t take the test, the boy replied, “I didn’t have a pencil!”
Laziness can become a bad habit that brings with it many negative consequences.
Laziness is often a temporary weakness of teenagers; it’s almost a rite of passage. It’s somewhat understandable because of all the changes that are taking place within a teen’s body and mind but it’s when I see adults being lazy, I’m a little concerned.
We have a small grocery store in our town. I can’t believe the number of times I have seen shopping carts left by a parking space abandoned a few minutes before. These carts are less than 50 feet from either the store entrance or to a cart corral. How much extra time and effort would it take to “dispose” of the cart? These kinds of things concern me because I know that laziness can become a bad habit that brings with it many negative consequences.
1. Laziness Destroys Purpose in Our Lives.
As I observe the young people that sit in my classroom day after day, I see a pattern of attitudes and behaviors that I did not see 30-plus years
ago. I see a purposelessness in their eyes. So many of my students have no interests (outside social media and gaming), nor do they have a
drive to become a productive member of society. Because of this, many of my students do not know the satisfaction of a job well done nor have a goal to achieve something more in life. Habitual laziness can destroy a person’s sense of purpose in life.
God knew that people needed a purpose in their lives. In Genesis 2, He gave Adam a job immediately after creating him. God told Adam that he was to work the garden of Eden and take care of it. Not only did God provide the means for a sense of purpose for Adam, He used the record of this event to speak to generations to come. Purposeful work is critical in keeping a person healthy emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally.
2. Laziness Prohibits Us from Providing for Our Needs and Those of Our Family.
Growing up, I enjoyed many team sports. Basketball was my preferred activity and I learned the value of teamwork. When we had victories on the court, it was because we worked together, for a common goal. If we lost, it was often because someone “dropped the ball” (sometimes, literally) and this pulled us all down.
Society, to function efficiently, needs us to work and provide for our own needs as individuals and families. Yes, there are situations where someone cannot provide, for legitimate reasons; I am not referring to these cases. Instead, I compare this need of active provision to a team sport. To be a strong society, all members need to take part. When individuals (which often leads to entire households) do not, it affects the entire “team”. These people become a weight that others have to pull.
Proverbs 20:4”(NLT) says, “Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.” Though I hate the saying, “God helps those who help themselves,” (which, by-the-way, is NOT in the Bible,) God expects us to pull our own weight for the things we need, not have others do it for us.
3. Laziness Leads to Destruction.
When we lose our since of purpose and we are not working to meet the needs of ourselves and our families, the result is destruction. I do not state this to be melodramatic. If we sense no purpose in life and we’ve checked out of all our responsibilities, it destroys our self-esteem, and is a bad example to those around us. With the lack of purpose, our positive outlook and spirits (emotions) take a serious beating and we can get into a destructive cycle that may never be escaped.
Proverbs 18:9 (NLT) says, “A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.” God knew that laziness is a deadly pattern and He warns us here of its danger.
As a classroom teacher, I have learned that keeping students busy with meaningful activities is the best type of classroom management. Why? Because idle time allows the opportunity for my students to get into trouble. I think the same is true in the adult world. Idleness can lead to bad behaviors and when lack of purpose is weighed into the equation, very little that’s good happens.
1. Actively Explore Your Aptitudes and Interests and Find Opportunities that Allow You to Use Them.
For example, I thrive when I can create. I can use this passion both vocationally and personally. I am a photographer, a seamstress, a storyteller, a singer and a teacher (which incorporates a plethora of creative outlets). These things energize me and bring me satisfaction.
2. As You Discover Your Aptitudes and Interests, Explore Professions that Can Use Them.
This will ensure that you also provide for your needs and for those you are responsible. If work of this nature is not available, having employment will build up your self-esteem and give you the knowledge that you are pulling your own weight.
3. Model a Good Work Ethic to Those Around You.
As parents, this will set a pattern in the hearts and minds of your children. Children will “learn what they live,” and this is a gift you can give them.
Laziness is the enemy of hard work and satisfaction. Make the choice to abandon its characteristics and have a more fulfilling life.
