A recent Garfield cartoon had the ever optimistic Jon proclaiming, “Nothing can stop me!” To which the lethargic Garfield replied, “Nothing can start me!”

This seems to describe two different types of church members you find in most congregations. On the one hand, you have those whose spirits cannot be broken. They will not be deterred from fulfilling their God-given assignments, no matter how heavily the odds are stacked against them. They persevere through delays and difficulties and get the job done.

On the other hand, there are those who simply refuse to be motivated. They are the sluggards that you read about throughout the book of Proverbs. Not only do they refuse to accept any challenge to perform any meaningful act of service in the kingdom, they show no remorse for their laziness and total lack of productivity.

The Bible clearly and consistently warns against spiritual laziness and urges us to be actively showing our love for God and people with our enthusiastic worship and unselfish service. Let us avoid sloth and be busy about our Father’s business!

“To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”—Colossians 1:29