DEFINING LAZINESS

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the dilegent makes rich (Proverbs 10:4).

Defining laziness is not as easy as it might seem, because there a quite a number of factors that are involved in it.  For instance, some do not have the intellect and understanding to know how to do effective work.  As a result, they cannot access the productive working world.  Are they lazy?  Some have physical disorders that leave them feeling low on energy so that any physical exertion leaves them feeling fatigued and exhausted.  Are they lazy?  Some have psychological disorders so that they are not able to focus on their work.  Are they lazy?  In each of these instances the technical answer is "yes" and they will suffer the practical consequence of laziness which is poverty.  However, in each of these cases, each one of these people could have a will to work, so, no they are not lazy.

Can it be that the busiest man in town is lazy?  I have seen people busily doing good things while neglecting the most important things.  Are they lazy?  Can it be that the person who thinks he is above certain kinds of work is lazy?  He thinks that a person with a college degree or a graduate degree is above doing menial work; is that laziness?  In both of these instances, though there has been accomplishment, they have not the will to do what is needed, so, yes, they are lazy and could suffer the logical consequence of laziness.

A dictionary definition of lazy is, With little will to work; lack of exertion (Webster).  I believe the "will to work" plays a much bigger role in laziness than the "lack of exertion."  Laziness begins with the will, with the decision as to whether or not one will work because it is true that some work harder at not working than if they would have done the job in the first place.  It is also interesting to me that a lazy person often thinks of himself as being very busy.

Grace&Peace,
Tom