Answers

Q:

Do you have any sure-fire cure for laziness? I admit I'm not a very ambitious person, and never have been, but recently my girlfriend broke off our engagement because she said she didn't want to put up with a lazy husband. I guess I need to change, but I don't know how.


A:

Have you ever asked yourself what kind of person God wants you to be? The answer is clear: He wants you to be someone who makes full use of the gifts and abilities He has given you. But you can’t do that if you’re lazy and undisciplined.

Why is it wrong to be lazy? You’ve already discovered one reason: it cuts you off from others. They know a lazy, undisciplined person can’t be trusted with responsibilities, and that they’re usually going to take the easy way out. But laziness is also wrong because you end up hurting both yourself and your loved ones — and God doesn’t want that to happen. The Bible warns, “The shiftless man goes hungry” (Proverbs 19:15). It also says, “Lazy hands make a man poor” (Proverbs 10:4).

What should you do? First, realize that God made you, and He loves you in spite of this problem. He loves you so much that His Son was willing to die for you, so you could be with Him in Heaven forever. Once you realize how much God loves you, your life will never be the same. Receive the gift of His love by turning to Christ and inviting Him into your life today.

Then ask God to help you overcome your laziness. It may not happen at once — but with God’s help, you can change. Take practical steps also — for example, by making a daily ‘to do’ list, eating properly and exercising regularly.