"I’ll just take a short nap,” he says; "I’ll fold my hands and rest a while" But while he sleeps, poverty will attack him like an armed robber. Proverbs 6:10-11, GNT

 

I am in a WhatsApp group with a few old school friends. We send each other birthday wishes, messages and sometimes good jokes. Recently, a member of the group sent anecdotes of people like us who are growing old. One such group started a support group for those who keep procrastinating. It’s been more than a year – they have still not had a meeting!

 

This gave me a good laugh, but it also made me think about a verse from Proverbs. The Bible speaks about realities that we encounter every day and this should encourage us not to be lazy in our daily jobs, our studies and many more. Laziness could leave us with a heavy financial burden.

 

But this is not all. We can also be lazy when it comes to our social and religious engagements. Folding my hands and resting a little while can easily become procrastinating on humanitarian and religious grounds. The problem is that this can leave us feeling spiritually destitute.

 

In my personal capacity, for instance, this is true of all my relationships, be it my life partner, child, colleague, friend, a beggar or anyone else. Lost opportunities are rarely repeated. When I neglect to help or give love to someone, I tend to be the one who loses the most and who ends up spiritually much poorer for it.

 

Fortunately, God never takes a nap or fold his hands where we are concerned. He is there when I need love and encouragement or when I am afraid. He always answers when I call and forgives me when I trespass. He will never procrastinate when I need him.

 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times that I have been idle when I should have been helping other people. Amen