Laziness 05 - Early Retirement

Thus far we have discussed some of the frustrations, causes and symptoms of laziness and have discussed only the typical stereotypes of laziness; those dorito munching television addicts. However I would like to suggest the idea that it is not always the outwardly lazy who suffer from the temptation and sin of laziness. I would like to propose the idea that even the most diligent and successful people can be motivated by laziness.

Why do I say this? It seems to be a trend in society that the ultimate badge of success, the ultimate goal to be attained is that of early retirement. Reaching this goal means to be able to escape the grip of work; to be released to a life of lazy mornings, round upon round of golf, and endless scrap booking. A man does not easily attain this badge of 'honour' (inverted commas intended), it can only be attained through hard work, long hours and the great investment of time.

However this working man appears to have committed one major sin, and most likely a plethora of other sins as a result. Most seriously he has turned leisure into an idol, he has made the idol of 'doing nothing' his God, and he has it worshipped not through laziness itself, but strangely through relentless hard work and long hours. Put simply... his motivation for work is fuelled by his want not to work. Not only has he disobeyed God's first commandment, which forbids man to worship any other God but the true God, Yahweh.... he has abandoned his creation mandate which is to work, produce, cultivate and multiply. He has taken to work furiously and foolishly in order to abdicate responsibility and productivity in the future.

Furthermore, because of this great sin other sins have likely flowed as a result. Instead of working steadily and finding balance in his life, he has most likely sacrificed the relationships with his wife and children, and most probably his involvement in the church and fellowshipping with other Christians.

I will leave the rest for a later post.

I Can't Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt

This is a wonderful version of a great song by Bonnie Raitt. I am not sure about the overly sentimental ending...it would have been better without it if I am honest. I also would have enjoyed to hear a few more 'Hornsby-esque' references through out the piece, it would have been a nice touch, pointing the listener back to the original.

The hints of gospel however subtlety shine throughout this piece; they creep up on you wonderfully expected. The tension and release/rise and fall, is simply masterful. A superb performance.

Boys and War...

A great quote from Doug Wilson in regard to boys playing War. To be found again in his book, Future Men.

His conclusion: Go ahead little warriors, just make sure your shooting in the right direction please; not at Mummy, or Mummy's friend.

'What about playing at war? More than a few adults have been concerned about boys playing at war with stick guns and swords. But boys who play at war are training to something men should do. It is as honourable as a young girl mothering a baby doll. But just as we do not want the young girl abusing a doll, neither do we want young boys pretending to do evil in war. Among the essential things, boys must learn honour and restraint...

This means that a boy who is playing with a toy gun should be trained never to use it more freely simply because it is not real. A small boy who is playing with his brothers should be pointing and blasting away with the best of them. But if a lady from church comes over to visit the young boy's mother, and is standing in the foyer, and the boy comes up and tries to blow her away, the young boy's mother should haul him off the bedroom to be tried for war crimes. The visitor was a civilian and a non-combatant, and Mother should be schooled in the principles of just war theory, and she should enforce the rules.'

Laziness 04 - Reputation

I must first start off my acknowledging my appreciation for Douglas Wilson's book Future Men, whose ideas I am drawing upon and expanding on in these posts. It is a fine book for parents and young men alike, in regard to the challenge of raising sons to become Christian men. It is a straight down the line, no messing about type of book...not everything you will agree with, but when is that ever the case.

Wilson, when discussing laziness usefully distinguishes between self esteem and self respect; both are necessary, yet both quite different. Self esteem is useful and valuable in that it helps a young man to be confident, and interact with other people well. However, as we discussed in an earlier post, laziness is deceitful and a boy with too great a self esteem, in the words of Wilson himself 'may fancy himself quite the working man.' We must be careful not indulge young men with a false sense of self esteem, which actually encourages laziness in the face of true reality. Galatians 6:3 says 'For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.'

The Galatians passage goes on to say in verse 4 and 5...'But let each one test his own work, then his reason to boast will be in himself and not in his neighbour . For each one will bear his own load.'. There is a deep sense of satisfaction that comes from working hard; it is a good feeling when you are exhausted at the end of a shift knowing you having done a good, solid, profitable days work.

Furthermore, work is almost always a public affair, therefore it is good and right that our work should be tested by those around us. In this way, those who work hard will be upheld and earn a good reputation. On the other hand, those who are lazy should be identified as such, and subsequently exhorted toward taking responsibility and working hard. For this reason it important we do not let those around us - our friends, our children, those we disciple - fall into laziness, for there very reputation is at stake.