Greetings to you, dear friends! Grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! I am glad that you once again have found time to visit our webpage and read „Daily Word for Spiritual Edification” in order to be spiritually strengthen and feed on the wisdom that is revealed in God’s Word. God’s Word brings light into our lives. David says in one of his psalms:
«For you will light my lamp; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness» (Psalm, 18:28).
Every one of us needs to be enlightened by God that comes through the Word. Today we continue talking about why people choose irresponsible lifestyle. We have established two reasons that lead people to irresponsibility and also to shame and the loss of authority and power. These two reasons are:
- fear;
- a wicked heart.
Fear paralyzes and limits a person, takes away his strength and courage for going forward; it does not allow person’s talents and gifts to come out on the surface. Fear steals person’s faith in God. A wicked heart makes a person selfish and stains his motives. Such a person is alienated from the true understanding of responsibility for his words and actions. He lives according to the principle “I do not owe a thing to anybody; everybody owes me!»
The third reason that leads to irresponsibility is laziness.In the parable of talents the lord said to the servant who hid his talent in no unmistakable terms:
«But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed» (Mathew, 25:26).
A lazy person does not want to a thing, and even if he starts something he does not finish it, but quits somewhere halfway.
«The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man’s precious possession» (Proverbs, 12:27).
A lazy man procrastinates. He or she is afraid of word and responsibility.
«The lazy man will not plow because of winter; he will beg during harvest and have nothing… Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread» (Proverbs, 20:4, 13).
Sometimes poverty and lack of order are the fruit of person’s irresponsible lifestyle.
«He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich» (Proverbs, 10:4).
As we have seen before, an irresponsible individual loses what he has; his possessions are passed to the one who takes responsibility upon himself. If you want to have good life, if you desire to walk in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit; if you want to enjoy power, authority and respect of people, but you do not want to move your brains and your hands and do not desire to take any responsibility, then shame and disgrace will follow you anywhere you go.The Book of Proverbs talks a lot about laziness and its consequences. I think we need to pay attention to some verses there, but I would not want you to lose our main idea that laziness leads to irresponsibility, and it leads to the loss of authority and power.
«A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, and will share and inheritance among the brothers» (Proverbs, 17:2).
A sensible person is diligent and responsible; he is willing to work and think; he is a person who finds time to renew his mind. A sensible man knows how to draw ideas and plans from the deep.
«Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out» (Proverbs, 20:5).
If a person is a slave, but possesses wisdom and understanding, he will rule over a son or an heir and will have the heritage along with the children. But if a son won’t take responsibility due to his laziness, then soon he will be put to forced labour; a slave will rule in his place.
«The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labour» (Proverbs, 12:24).
The diligent will gain authority and supremacy in this world. Responsible people will always rule in the areas of their responsibility. Do you desire to have power and authority? Then start taking responsibility for the things in your life.May God bless you abundantly!Till tomorrow!Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
