Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading Saturday December 24, 2022

Comment: Laziness and idleness surely leads to poverty and persistent lack. King Solomon admonished, “If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Stay awake, work hard, and there will be plenty to eat.” – Proverbs 20:13, New Living Translation.

In other words, children of God should imbibe virtues of hard work instead of being lazy and idle. In his second letter to the Christians at Thessalonica, St Paul rebuked those believers who lived in idleness, for they were not living according to the laid down examples that he had set. Continuing his address in 2 Thessalonians 3, St Paul observed and admonished, “Even while we were still here with you, we gave you this rule: He who does not work shall not eat. Yet we hear that some of you are living in laziness, refusing to work, and wasting your time gossiping. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to such people, we command them to quiet down, get to work, and earn their own living.” (Verses 10-12, New Living Translation). Lovers of righteousness should stay away from those who refuses wise counsel and scorn at God’s word as it pertains to the dignity of labour, so as not to be contaminated by their bad behaviour. Scripture says, “The Lord loaths all cheating and dishonesty. Some men enjoy cheating, but the cake they buy with such ill-gotten gain will turn to gravel in their mouths.” – Proverbs 20:23,17. See also 1 Corinthians 15: 33.