Matthew 25:14–30

Recurrent Thought

Laziness is a silent killer of vision. God entrusts us with gifts and assignments to fulfill purpose and not to bury them, but to multiply them through diligence, faith, and responsibility.

• Laziness is a serious challenge to the culture of Vison implementation. Simply put, Laziness is one’s reluctance or unwillingness to work, despite having the capacity. When one feels lazy they may be unwilling to do work that demands lots of energy or motivation. Interestingly, the subject of Laziness has had many studies done around it. There is some evidence that in some special circumstance the unwillingness to exert energy over some tasks has led to great innovations. Innovations such as remote controls, escalators, etc. are deemed to be sponsored by a mindset that does not want to exert lots of energy. To this end some people celebrate the status of laziness as a basis of a good life.  Frank Gilbreth wrote that: “I will always choose a lazy person to do a difficult job because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it,”
• However, laziness is usually seen in a more negative way and has more destructive effect than positive. In this message we want to see the dangers of Laziness to Vision implementation. Scriptures addresses the culture of laziness with disdain, ridicule and judges it as instrumental to the life of poverty, overdependence on others (parasitic lifestyle) and to a life that is without focus. Some of the Scriptures that speak to this lifestyle includes
  • Pro 10:4  A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich
  • Pro 13:4  The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. .
  • Pro 18:9  Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. 
  • Pro 19:15  Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger
  • Pro 21:25  The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. 
  • Pro 24:30  I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, 
  • Pro 24:31  and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. 
  • Pro 24:32  Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. 
  • Pro 24:33  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 
  • Pro 24:34  and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. 
  • 2Th 3:11  For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 
  • 2Th 3:12  Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
• The parable is about a master who entrusts his servants with talents (money, responsibilities). Two servants put their talents to work. One buries his and is ultimately called wicked and lazy. This passage shows the one-talent man, the unprofitable servant as one who demonstrates a life of laziness. He is entrusted with a talent based on his capabilities, instead of investing it to make more profit, he buries it. He is full of fear and low in motivation. He lacks initiative to invest or exert effort in that direction. Despite the expectation placed on him by the master he decides to do nothing. He corrupts this expectation with fear, neglect of responsibility and unwarranted criticism of his master.
• This parable is not just about money but it is about how we handle the vision, time, resources, and potential God gives us. One thing is very clear laziness makes you lose opportunities to increase your capacity, to be profitable and become stronger and better. It also affirms the maxim that states that: “God doesn’t reward potential but He rewards productivity.”

1. Laziness Hides Behind Excuses (Matthew 25:24–25)

   • Scripture: “I knew you to be a hard man… so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.”

   • Laziness is steeped in the culture of blaming others. In this passage the lazy servant blamed the master. He portrayed his master as harsh and his demand was somewhat unrealistic
   • The Danger of Laziness is that you continue to blame others and yet you never invest in your talents for your own progress
   • He also states clearly that he was afraid. Vision-destroying laziness often disguises itself in fear, perfectionism, or procrastination.
   • Stop blaming circumstances, other people, or lack of opportunities.
   • It is essential to own your calling and take action, even if it is small.
   • What excuses have you been making for your inaction?
2. Laziness Leads to Wasted Potential (Matthew 25:18) He dug and hid the talent
   • When that One talent was hidden in the ground, became unproductive, unused, and wasted.
   • Remember that God invests in us expecting a return and not perfection, but faithful stewardship.
   • The Danger of Laziness lies in the fact that reluctance to invest, or to work wastes one’s capacity to improve, increase or achieve greatness in life.
   • A field left untended grows weeds. Vision neglected becomes regret.
   • Use what you have now. Don’t wait for “better conditions.” You will wait forever. Don’t wait for a luck time, number, or season
   • What are you doing with the talents, ideas, and time God gave you?

   • That Question is for every person feeling that they are disadvantaged or don’t have luck; It is a question to those who feel they were born in a wrong body, wrong country.

3. Laziness brings Loss, Not Safety (Matthew 25:28–30)

   • Scripture: “Take the talent from him... and throw that worthless servant outside...”

   • The servant thought hiding the talent would protect it but it led to a stern judgment.
   • When you overprotect your capacity, your skills by not using them, you will lose them.
   • This servant was not driven by a sense of seeking or taking advantage of opportunities but by sense of being accepted by others, especially his master.
   • Remember every activity that is Fear-driven doesn’t preserve your gift; it causes loss
   • The story of the one talent person shows that delayed obedience is disobedience. God expects faithful action.
   • What vision or dream have you buried out of fear? What opportunities have you lost due to fear?
   • God is calling you to dig it up and invest it. Don’t be scared or embarrassed to dig it up
4. Diligence Attracts Divine Favor (Matthew 25:20–23)

   • Scripture: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

   • It is essential to notice how hard work leads to fruitfulness. Diligence means energetic effort, hard work, etc.
   • God honors and blesses faithfulness, not just fruitfulness. It is faithfulness that produces fruitfulness
   • One thing we notice in this parable is that the reward for diligence is not rest but its more responsibility and joy.
   • Laziness does not create room for exponential growth.
   • Small steps in your vision: Things such as planning, learning, building are noticed by God.
   • Here is an encouragement: Even slow progress is honored when it’s faithful.

Conclusion:

• As we conclude remember not bury Your Vision
• Laziness is a spiritual and dangerous issue at the same time. It kills potential, it offends God, and delays destiny.
• God has given you a vision. Don’t sit on it. Don’t excuse it. Don’t wait.
• Therefore, if there is cause, Repent of passivity or procrastination.
• Commit today to dig up what’s been buried and start moving forward.