DCLM Sincere Milk 4 July 2023 — Idleness Is A Bad Habit
DCLM Sincere Milk 4 July 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Idleness Is A Bad Habit
Topic:Idleness Is A Bad Habit
Text: Proverbs 19:13-16
14House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
Key Verse: “Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger” Proverbs 19:15
Message
According to Oxford dictionary, idleness is a state of inaction or inactivity. Other words used to describe idleness include unused, useless, dormant, fallow, inactive, vacant among others. There is a saying which goes thus “idleness is the only refuge for weak minds and the holiday of fools”. No dream comes true until you wake up and work hard. The chief reward of idleness is poverty as Proverbs 10:4 rightly puts it that “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”
Hard work does not kill because the secret of success is sweat. Idleness kills and destroys great ambitions, it brings shame, poverty and failure. Idleness puts its victims under slavery in Satan’s kingdom.
The way out of idleness includes the following:
⁃ Understand the fact that time is life and it will soon be over.
⁃ Ensure you invest your day in something profitable
⁃ Take stock of your daily achievement at the close of day
⁃ Set your goals daily and work hard to achieve them
⁃ Take time to talk to God daily for guidance
Remember the way to be nothing is to do nothing, and the way to be somebody is to do something.
Further Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
Prayer for today: Dear Father, forgive my past idleness and give me hunger for hard work.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
