The Ways of the Wise

The Lazy Sermon

The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. - Proverbs 15:19

Laziness is an attempt to find comfort.

9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest…

- Proverbs 6:9-10

Laziness is a trap.

11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

- Proverbs 6:11

Jesus Christ set us free and sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter.

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

- John 14:6

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

- John 14:16-17, ESV

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever… 

- John 14:16, KJVAE

Don’t settle for the pursuit of comfort. Pursue the Comforter!

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

- John 15:4-5

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

- John 15:7, 10

The Holy Spirit leads us into a rhythm of rewarding work and rest.

…the path of the upright is a level highway.

- Proverbs 15:19

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 

- John 15:8-9

I Want More!

Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.

- Proverbs 12:9

One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

- Proverbs 13:7

We can be enticed by everything this world has to offer.

2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

- Ecclesiastes 1:2

God made us to be satisfied by more.

11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

- Ecclesiastes 3:11

11He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.

- Ecclesiastes 3:11, AMP

We should turn our focus from the temporary to the timeless.

19  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where  moth and rust  destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

- Matthew 6:19-21

Living for things that last leads to satisfaction that lasts.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

- Matthew 6:33

Trust in the Lord: More than a Motto

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

- Proverbs 3:1-10

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

- Proverbs 3:5a

Trusting God is absolute

Wisdom outside of God is limited

and lean not on your own understanding;

- Proverbs 3:5b

in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

- Proverbs 3:6

Acknowledging God brings clarity and assurance