When I was thirteen I would work for my dad’s landscaping company during the summer months. Let’s just say I wasn’t a very motivated teenager. I was lazy, actually. I had trouble deciding to be all in.
One day my dad caught me sitting on a bucket watching the other guys work. He had already told me several times to pick up the pace. Well, I didn’t get the message until the switch caught the back of my leg. That sent the message loud and clear.
Looking back I’m thankful that my dad had the courage to teach me through loving discipline not be lazy. I needed to learn to work and work hard. What I didn’t realize at the time was that he was teaching me a godly principle.
Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
If you’re struggling with laziness you’re not alone. We’ve all been there. But we shouldn’t choose to live there.
Here are three ways to overcome laziness in your life:
1. Allow God to be your motivation.
You might not like what you’re doing. Most people don’t. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it for the Lord. You can honor him even through the most mundane tasks. Let him be your purpose.
2. Look for opportunities to serve.
Let’s be honest, serving is often inconvenient. It takes some of our personal time to commit to serving others. But do you want to know a secret? You will be happier, more fulfilled and successful the more you serve.
3. Lead by example.
Take a moment and evaluate yourself. Do you often take the easy and lazy road? If so, is that the kind of example you want to set for your family and friends? If not, it’s time to make a change.
All of us have been caught sitting on a bucket, watching everyone else work. But we don’t have to stay there. Deciding to be all in is about doing it for God.
Talk It Over:
- In what area can you start serving right now? Find a place and start doing it.
- Do you lead by example or do you wait for everyone else to do most of the work before jumping in? Maybe it’s time to take the lead.
