Bible Society of South Africa

Christians should work. Maybe you work somewhere for a salary, perhaps you care for your family or perhaps you have retired. It does not matter what we do, we must not be lazy.

The Bible teaches that those who work hard are wise and reap the fruit of their labour while those who are lazy are foolish and get nowhere. It is important to provide for our own daily needs by doing an honest day’s work.

Proverbs has a great deal to say about hard work. One image that King Solomon used to teach us about hard work is that of the ant:

"You lazy people can learn by watching an anthill. Ants don’t have leaders, but they store up food during harvest season. How long will you lie there doing nothing at all? When are you going to get up and stop sleeping?"  Proverbs 6:6-9

 Here are a few more passages from Proverbs that make it clear that laziness will get you nowhere:

“Work hard, and you will be a leader; be lazy, and you will end up a slave.”  Proverbs 12:24

“A door turns on its hinges, but a lazy person just turns over in bed.”  Proverbs 26:14

“Some of us are so lazy that we won’t lift a hand to feed ourselves.”  Proverbs 26:15

Today, work to the glory of God.

Prayer: Lord, help me not be lazy. Grant that I will work hard to honour your name. Amen