If you live in an area of single family homes, it’s easy to identify laziness. These are the folks who seldom mow their lawns or bring their trash cans in from the street. Their kids leave toys strewn around the property, and swim towels hang on their clothes lines for weeks after the summer ends. In the office or workplace, it’s the person who spends more time socializing with co-workers than actually doing much work. The list could go on and on. The question is, can you cure laziness?
Psychologists have tried to come up with ways to cure laziness. They say a person should set goals, and stop procrastinating. They might blame a person’s parents. Apparently, an overly critical and demanding parent causes the person to give up and stop trying, because they know they can’t please. Therefore, if you work on improving your self esteem, you will not be lazy. It all sounds like psychobabble to me.
The Bible has this to say about laziness:
“The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work” (21:25); he loves sleep: “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed” (26:14); he gives excuses: “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets’” (26:13); he wastes time and energy: “He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great waster” (18:9 KJV); he believes he is wise, but is a fool: “The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly” (26:16).
Proverbs also tells us what happens to lazy people: : A lazy person becomes a servant (or debtor): “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor” (12:24); his future is bleak: “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing” (20:4); he may come to poverty: “The soul of the lazy man desires and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (13:4 KJV).
When politicians start talking about welfare and extended unemployment benefits , laziness is the elephant in the room. No one wants to accuse a potential voter of preferring life on the dole.
Intellectual people are sometimes lazy. They’d rather sit at a desk than do any physical labor. The internet hasn’t helped matters. We all know someone who spends hours online playing video games or maybe watching porn.
Physical therapy doesn’t appeal to the lazy patient. When the doctor orders six weeks or so after some type of joint surgery, he/she may opt not to “bother.” Which results in a poor recovery.
The fact is, most of us are somewhat lazy. As an example, if you don’t see the importance of having a clean car trunk, it will probably always be a trifle messy. A little bit of laziness makes you more relaxed, and feeling less stressed. Anyway, messiness and laziness are two different things. A lazy person can keep a very neat desk drawer, while a messy person may be too busy working to sit down and take the time.