Laziness & Hardwork (Psalm 14 as reflection)

Title: Laziness & Hardwork in Proverbs
Date: 18 September 2022
Preacher: Ps Tan Hock Seng

Introduction:
A Message from Big Boss in a Mission Staff Retreat
The year was 1984, in Singapore. A group of missionary staff was having their annual retreat. In one session the staff were listening to a recorded message from the president of that Mission Organization. The boss from the USA told the staff, “You are lazy!”
“You need to work harder.” “You must repent of your laziness.”
Many staff were very discouraged by the message. They felt demoralized.
Most of them had been working very hard, and yet the mission boss was pushing them to work harder, and not be lazy. The Retreat experience was a bad one that year.

About two years later, an American mission staff visited Singapore, and clarified that the “You are lazy” message was intended for the staff in the USA. The American staff worked just 4-5 hours a day; whereas the Singaporean staff worked 9-12 hours a day, that is more than doubled the time, the American staff worked.
The Singaporeans had listened to a message that was addressing a different situation;
it was not meant for them. Some of the Singaporean ministry leaders, without careful discernment, used that message as a “whip” to drive their staff to work harder.

Today, many Singaporeans work very hard. They either leave their offices after 10.00pm, or 11.00pm. They also bring their work home to do. Some even do their works in church.
If these hardworking people were to read Proverbs’ teachings, telling them to work hard and not be lazy, they might get very discouraged – “What flourishing life is there for me?”

Thus, when we study Proverbs, we need to examine the teaching carefully.

What do Proverbs mean by “hardworking” and “laziness”?
Am I a lazy person in the eyes of the Proverb-teachers?
We need to understand the teachings about laziness and hardwork properly in their original life-context first, before making any application.

Now, I will share another anecdote to introduce a second issue:

Students from a Distant Land
Two foreign students in a theological college were noted by the dean for not submitting their assignments on time.
They could not complete their assignments for many modules [not just one].
One day, the dean spoke to the students to find out why they were lagging behind.

One student said, “In my country, we sleep by 10.00pm …” Immediately, the dean understood why those students could not complete their assignments – They slept early, while their Singaporean counterparts were working past midnight, or 1.00am.

Now, the question is “Whose pace of life is normal?”
The foreign students, or the Singaporean students?
To those living in the fast lane, the foreign students are lazy;
the Singaporeans are normal.
To those living in a slower pace of life, the foreign students are normal;
the Singaporeans, crazy – pushing themselves too hard.

So, the issue is, “Do Proverbs tell us what pace of life is normal?”
Do the teachings regulate a right pace of life,
that we may distinguish who is lazy and who is not?

Let us read the Bible passages for today.

Proverbs 24:30-34
ESV I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,
31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 and poverty will come upon you like a bandit,
and scarcity like an armed robber.

Proverbs 6:6-11
ESV 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food
in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and scarcity like a bandit.
The two passages, Proverbs 24 & Proverbs 6,
have a specific life-context – Farming.

The farming context is indicated by the phrases, “by the field”; “by the vineyard”;
“overgrown with thorns”; ”covered with weeds”; and ant “prepares her bread in summer .. in winter”.

Proverbs 24:30-34
ESV I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, 31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down.

Proverbs 6:6-11
6 Go to the ant …, consider her ways …
8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

Both passages contain the same warning about the consequences of not being hardworking at the right time:

Two verses in Proverbs 24 read:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 34 and poverty will come upon you like a bandit, and scarcity like an armed robber [24:33-34 // 6:10-11]

However, in Japan, if office-staff take a nap during work-hour, no one will fire them. Taking a break for a nap is a trend that is on the rise in Japan. Some called it “Power Nap”. Napping can be considered a sign of respect for the company and the employer.
It is honorable and dignified.

In the farming community of ancient Israel, work activities are determined
by the season and the climate.
Farm workers must work hard at the right time, and they must engage in the right activities.

1. The workers must be hardworking at the right time
Plough the ground between late summer and early autumn
Sow the seeds before late autumn.
There are only two period of rainfalls – the early rain and the latter rain,
The seedlings must catch the early rain in autumn; the young crops must receive the latter rain in spring.
When rainy periods are missed, the crops will fail.
Failure of crops will lead to loss of money; indebtedness; poverty; and the family members might have to become slaves to repay their debts.

2.The workers must be hardworking in doing the right activities.
You cannot start ploughing your field when all the people are almost done with sowing.
Your crop will miss the Autumn rain and will not be mature enough to receive the Spring rain. The Spring rain will destroy the immature crop.
While the others are harvesting, you have nothing to gather.

Proverbs 20:4 states,
NET The sluggard will not plough during the planting season,
so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing.

Hence, the admonishment in 6:9 is befitting:
9 How long will you lie there … When will you arise from your sleep?

Understanding the agricultural context can also help clarify some teachings from Ecclesiastes 3:1-9.

Ecclesiastes chapter 3 is popular but often being misunderstood.

[Just read verse 1, the rest for display only.]
1 For everything there is a season (זְמָן zümän), and a time (עֵת `ët)
for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born (לֶ֫דֶ ledet) [for animals to mate & breed],
and a time to die (מוּת mût) [for some livestock to be slaughtered];
a time to plant [late autumn - early winter],
and a time to pluck up what is planted [late summer - early autumn];
3 a time to kill (הָרַג hárôg) [put to rest a suffering animal],
and a time to heal (רָפָא r•Pô´ ) [restore the young animal];
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep [when labors are back-breaking],
and a time to laugh [the “happy hours” after work];
a time to mourn [crop failure due to bad weather],
and a time to dance [celebration of harvest];
5 a time to cast away stones [during ploughing],
and a time to gather stones together [constructing storehouses];
a time to embrace [enjoy life & relationship together],
and a time to refrain from embracing [back to work again, a new cycle];

This Bible passage is not teaching about “Fengshui,” or a person’s fate.
The “time” in Ecclesiastes has nothing to do with “fengshui,” like,
checking for a lucky day for the official opening of a new office;
picking an auspicious year to get married , or to bear children.
The repeated reference to “time” is not alerting people about their fated destiny – When can a person be successful? or When will he decline? When will he die?

Ecclesiastes 3 teaches us not to be pushy when the time is not ripe.
For example, we don’t force an animal to mate when it is immature,
or when it is old and dying.

2 a time to be born [for animals to mate & breed],
and a time to die [for some livestock to be slaughtered];
3 a time to kill [put a suffering animal to rest],
and a time to heal [restore the young animal];

The preacher also encourages us to do the right things at the right time,
like don’t throw a party when people are sad,
or cry your heart out when they are celebrating.

4 a time to weep [when labors are back-breaking],
and a time to laugh [the “happy hours” after work];
a time to mourn [crop failure due to bad weather],
and a time to dance [celebration of harvest];

We should take the fullest advantage when the season is right.
Don’t chase after an opportunity when it is long-gone.
Otherwise, our efforts can be futile, and we will experience the preacher’s lament, “Vanity of vanities”; I have worked hard but I worked in vain.

Applications

A. We need to observe our kinds of “Seasons”
In our city context, our works are not determined by Winter or Summer.
We don’t have to catch the Autumn or the Spring rains.
However, we still have to observe our kind of “seasons”.

For students, there is “season” to prepare for the major exams, like the “O” level, or the Final exam. If you start your revision too late, you might not achieve the results you desire.

I learned that it is not effective to follow a “time to study” versus
a “time to play” schedule. When students play throughout their long vacation, they might forget a lot of things when they return to school.
It is not wise to lay off studies completely for a prolonged time,
or to study intensively and continually without any play.

It might be better to keep “A time to study more, play less”
and “A time to play more, study less” discipline.

For working adults, every sphere will have its “very busy” period, “less busy” period, and relatively “free” season [quite rare]. Sometimes, the busyness is determined by projects. Projects are contracted to be completed by an agreed set-time.

Sometimes, busyness is determined by the weather. In civil engineering, building highways and repairing roads cannot be carried out when it rains all day. So, during the wet season, the workers will have to work longer hours when the ground is dry. Instead of packing up at 5.00 p.m. they will end work at 7.00 p.m. Such extension of work hour can be inevitable during the wet season.

During the busy times, when everybody is working hard, we should also work hard. When the busy periods are over, we can slow down.
We need to march in-steps with the others in our team. Otherwise, we will be out of sync – falling behind deadlines when everybody is working hard; or keep on marching when the platoon has stopped.

The Apostle Paul taught the same concept in Ephesians 5:15-16,
Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

The days are described as evils, because we don’t know what wars or diseases would break out in the region. We cannot take peace and stability for granted.
Hence, “make hays while the sun shines.”

B. We need to give priority to the right activities.
Proverbs exhort us to work hard in the right season, and also
to work hard doing the right things with respect to the “season”.

If we spend too much time doing the “wrong things” we will not get the right things done.

Even some good things in life can hinder us from hitting what we aim for. Perhaps you have often heard, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit nothing.”
However, in reality, when you aim at nothing, you still may hit something.
But that something is not what you wanted.”

In fact, some wrong activities are more enjoyable than the necessary work.
A mother scold her child, “You are lazy in your studies; but very hardworking in playing video games.”
A wife chides husband, “You’re lazy in helping me look after the children, but very hard working in watching football.“
Sometimes, pleasures and addictions can distract us so much that we neglect what we ought to do. Eventually, we become lazy.

Nicholas Eberstadt, a political economist on the American Enterprise Institute, discussed a worrying trend in the US labor force after the pandemic lockdowns. He observed that despites the plentiful job openings and rising pay in 2021, “thousands and thousands” of people are not working, or in search of work.

Among the many possible factors for the disinterest in job-seeking, Eberstadt pinpoints “Media Addiction” as the major cause for the laziness.

During the lockdowns, there was abundant streaming of motion pictures, videogames and social-media available. Many people succumbed to
media addiction. After the strict lockdowns, many lost their motivation
and interest in working.

So, don’t allow yourselves to be distracted until you become irresponsible, not doing what you ought to do.

Now, I will address four issues relating to the sermon topic

Q1: Why should I work, if I have money to spend?
Q2: Is there a normal pace to work?
Q3: Are poor performers & unmotivated workers lazy?
Q4: Who is a lazy workers?

Q1: Why should I work, if I have money to spend?
Some people have passive incomes.
The money may come from investments and/or property rentals. Their work nature is very different from those who are employed, or those running a business.
However, there are some who have enough money to last them a life-time.
They do not have to work, but some of them still choose to work.
They are not working for money.
They do voluntary works in the community, or in the church,
or in some mission organization.
Some people expereinced workless makes me fell worthless.

Other than for self-sustenance, there are
three biblical reasons why we work:

1. We are created in the image of God, a God who works.
In God’s image we sub-consciously imitate our Creator’s example of working.
We work to sustain and take care of God’s creation.
God’s creation encompasses our loved ones in our family, the living things in our environment, and our ecosystem.
This first reason serves a basis for the next two reasons.

2. We work to develop what God has entrusted us. We work to learn and develop
skills.
Our work environment provides the life-context for us to learn social skills and relational skills, Working in a team enables us to develop leadership and grow in character.

3. We work to bless and to serve one another.
Each person’s work is a partial expression of co-ruling the creation with God.
Every good work is a blessing to other. This third and the second reasons are closely inter-related and overlapping. They build upon the truth
that we are God’ image.

Q2: Is there a normal pace to work?
The Bible does not tell us “How long to work ?”
“How much work we should do within a day?”
However, the wisdom books gives us principles to regulate our pace of work,
in order to lead a balanced life.

I will share three fundamental principles for working and living a flourishing life:

1. Bible rebukes laziness.
2. Bible warns against working hard meaninglessly.
3. Bible exhorts workers not to forget their Creator.

Since we are well aware of the consequences of laziness, I will emphasize only the warning against working hard meaninglessly.

First, hard work becomes meaningless when we Work, work & work until we lose the ability to enjoy life.

The simple things in life, like the ability to relish food, sleep soundly,
and to enjoy life are gifts from God.

Ecclesiastes 2:24 teaches us not to take those simple things for granted,
“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink
and find satisfaction in his work.
This too, I see, is from the hand of God” (2:24; 5:12).

Money can buy good food but not appetite;
it can buy a comfortable bed, but not sleep;
it gets us the best medical care, but not health.

We must stop taking our ability to eat, sleep and enjoy life for granted.

Proverbs 2:25 says, “for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”

A good appetite, ability to sleep well, and health are gifts from God.

Only in God, not in work, does a person find meaning and contentment in living.

Second, hard works becomes meaningless when we Work, work & work until we have no time for God.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 exhorts us to
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
"I find no pleasure in them" (12:1).

When we are young we are attracted to strive for success, achieve great things, and climb the corporate ladder to a point that we begin abandoning God.
That’s why the Preacher reminds us to remember the Creator in the days of our youth.
There is a hymn that exhorts us, “Give of your best to the Master; give of the strength of your youth.”

Q3: Are unmotivated workers and poor performers?
1. Some works are hazardous, and/ or unpleasant.
The foreign workers are doing many jobs that Singaporeans do not want to take. Like, clearing the Rubbish Chutes of the housing blocks
twice a day. Working with jack-hammers, doing renovation,
from 10.00am – 5.00pm every working day.
In the morning it is very difficult for those workers to tell themselves,
“It’s going to be a great day today?”
They have to push themselves to do very unpleasant or hazardous works. So, we must not be quick to brand them as “lazy” when they are listless.

2. Some laborers resent for being treated unfairly. They are victimized and exploited – overworked and underpaid.
Such grievance affects their work performances. This kind of injustice needs to be dealt with. Those people may not be lazy.

3. Some professionals’ energy is dissipated by sensual pleasure and addictions, like drug abused.
Some people go clubbing until 2-3 am in the morning. They go to the office “stoned” the next day. Some are lured to take drugs,
like Methamphetamine, to relieve stress. Those are some things
that can lead to laziness, ruin a person’s career ,
and destroy lives, eventually.

Q: Who is a lazy-worker?
Lazy people are those who are not doing the necessary works
that they ought to do when they have the ability and health. They are not disabled or sick, but just don’t want to work.

Now I will share some commonly encountered laziness in the workplace.
Lazy workers can affect others to become lazy like them.

Commonly encountered laziness:

1. Work-shirkers
To the work-shirkers “working at the right time means working only when the boss is around. “Doing the right activities” means be quick to toggle the Windows from the Entertainment to the Work page.
Work-shirking will affect the team. The others will have to do the shirker’s works, in order to complete the project on time.
Some people get so frustrated. “Why work hard, when those shirkers do is just drinking coffee with their “buddy, buddy” boss, and then get promoted?” “Why not become like them?”

2. Work-credit thieves
These are people who steal other’s ideas and present it as their own. They can be team-leaders who lacks ethics. The credit-stealers can be very intelligent, but lazy to think creatively. The undiscerning boss will blindly promote them. Their victim gets disillusioned, and can become hesitant to contribute new ideas in future

3. Habitual procrastinators
One YouTube ad tells the viewers, “Procrastination is a coping mechanism. It is a sub-conscious way of dealing with stress…”

Actually, many actions can be rationalized as coping mechanism.
The boss can fire the staff and says,
“Firing people is my coping mechanism…”
There are many types of coping mechanism;
don’t choose the wrong ones.
The bad coping mechanism will breed bad habits in us,
which will affect our character.

However, some people procrastinate because they find it very difficult to start a new assignment, or to take off in piloting a project. Working as a team
we can help them to start working on the task,
and then let them continue on their own thereafter.

4. Colleague manipulators
Proverbs 26:15 talks about some sluggards who even do not bother to feed themselves. There are people who think “Why should I feed myself, when I can make others feed me?” So, they either bully the young staff to do their share of work, or manipulate the gullible colleague.
“Can you show me how to do this?” “Wah, you are very smart, leh!”
Then the good Samaritan ends up becoming their puppet-on-a-string.
Yes, we should be helpful, but we need to be wise and discerning
to avoid being manipulated.

5. “Work Smart is enough” gurus
In school I was taught by many teachers, “Don’t work hard; work smart.”
But as I worked, I realized that “Working Smart” is not a substitute
for “Working Hard.” The two are not mutually exclusive.

Yes, there are people who are genuinely working smart.
They may not be visible in the office. Those people actually put in a lot of time, working informally, outside the office-hours.
They work while eating, walking and playing. Their mind is their office, not so much the physical space.

The “work smart” gurus that I’m talking about are people who are lazy but using “working smart” as an excuse, or cover-up, “I don’t work hard but I work smart”.

You need to work smart and work hard, especially when God has blessed you with good intelligence and talents. You must give your best for God’s sake.
God is our Master is God, not our salary.

The behaviors described above often seem wise in the doers’ own eyes, BUT they are foolish in God’s sight.

Psalm 14 tells us that God is fully aware of everything we do.

Wise in the World’s Eyes But Fools in God’s Sight

[Psalm 14:1] The fools think that God does not know what’s going on

1 Fools say to themselves, "There is no God."
They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.

The statement, There is no God” is not an atheist manifesto. It does not means “God does not exist.” It means “God is not around.” When a burglar tells his partner-in-crime, “There is no police”. It means “Police is not around,” and not “Police does not exist. In school, the playful students will say
“There is no teacher.” There is no teacher around.
Thus, when people think that God is not around,
they may do whatever they wanted.

[Psalm 14:2-3] But God is watching all the times
2 The LORD looks down from heaven at the human race,
to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.
3 Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt.
None of them does what is right, not even one!
4 All those who behave wickedly do not understand–
those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,
and do not call out to the LORD.

[Psalm 14:5-6] God will vindicated the victims
5 They are absolutely terrified, for God defends the godly.
6 You want to humiliate the oppressed,
but the LORD is their shelter [Protector].

[Psalm 14:7] God cares for the well-being of His people
7 I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion!
When the LORD restores the well-being of his people,
may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be happy!

The righteous people will look to God to intervene and vindicate them of their injustice. God will deliver them.

At the beginning of the Proverbs sermon series, we learned that
the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

The concept of the “Fear of the LORD” encompasses
the sense of Reverence & Love within us
towards the Creator-God.

When we fear our parents, we do not want to do things that will hurt them, or grieve them, because we love them.
Thus, when we fear God, we would not want to do things that hurt or grieve God.

Q: Would we continue in such behaviors
when are conscious of God’s Presence
when we know that God will be grieved?

1. Work-shirkers
2. Work-credit thieves
3. Habitual procrastinators
4. Colleague manipulators
5. “Work-smart-is-enough” gurus

Proverbs 16:6
… through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

Avoiding evil is the kind of wisdom that we need most in this age.

Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom …

Conclusion:
The two passages in Proverbs [24:30-34 & 6:6-11] teach us the principle to do the right things at the right time.

In applying that principle, we should observe our kinds of season, and to give priority to the right activities.

The biblical principles guides us not to be lazy, and not to overwork until we cannot enjoy life, and also forget the Creator-guide.

Lastly, Psalm 14 teaches us that God is fully aware of everything we do we do.

God will vindicate those who are victimized.

Bilingual Service Video Link: https://youtu.be/dun0Fd9v4vE