I shared the signs and dangers of spiritual laziness in my previous post and promised to share the causes of spiritual laziness. So here we go: causes of spiritual laziness and how to overcome it. Factors that may give room for spiritual laziness include:

1. Lack of Goal (motivation) – ‘Joining’ the Christian faith in sheer ignorance (without conviction) can lead to a lethargic conduct spiritually over a relatively short time. People like this probably became Christians to identify with family, friends or spouses. They therefore joined without any serious focus or conviction for the faith they profess and this results to lukewarmness.
2. Dependent lifestyle – Some persons believe they cannot move without being pushed.
3. Lack of self-confidence or self-worth – Some think too low of themselves and do not think they are good enough for any task given to them in the church.
4. Fear of failure – Some persons are poor at handling failure. They fear they might be terrible at certain things and because they do not want to be shamed, they rather stay passive.
5. Poor Choices of lifestyle: Social media, friends, play, parties, lack of rest etc. are lifestyles that can cause distraction or weakness in a Christian’s life.
6. Depression – Long unanswered prayers or life changing occurrences such as accidents, sickness and death can create depression, quench the spirit or stifle the love for God in a believer’s heart if one is not careful or close attention is not paid to such.
7. Sentiments (unforgiveness) – Nursing grudges against other believers or unbelievers can make one gradually loose space to accommodate the Holy Spirit in the heart. Light and darkness do not sit side by side.
8. Procrastination – Piling up tasks only leads to discouragement each time you attempt to get back to them.
9. Too much to do – Taking too much tasks or functions upon oneself even in the church can lead to confusion and laziness.
10. Fear or lack of responsibility
11. “Who –cares” attitude – Some show indifference believing someone else will get it done. They don’t show concern because they are not directly affected by the consequences of their neglect. This only amounts to selfishness and laziness.
12. Indecisiveness – Some find it difficult to decide on the right thing to do.

How to Overcome Spiritual Laziness

To overcome laziness, there is need to first remind yourself of your conviction; the reason why you chose to be a Christian.

Why are you here? (What is your Conviction?)

When purpose is unknown, abuse is evitable. Why are you in Church? Why have you chosen the path of Christianity among other religions that also believe in God’s existence? If you are a Christian or in church for the wrong reasons, you will definitely become lethargic as soon as you begin to face little challenges to the faith you profess. Be sure you are not serving God because of a friend or spouse else, at a slight provocation from a church member, you may start quarrelling with God or decline in your devotion to Him.

One who does not believe in the reality of heaven and hell should not be a Christian. If one claims Christianity and does not believe that Christ is the only way to make heaven and that he requires our full attention (sincere devotion) then such person is practicing the wrong religion.

To overcome spiritual laziness, try practicing the following:

• Focus on your Conviction – If you don’t, you will be easily distracted. It is easy to become lazy or to choose idleness when you do not have a goal.
• Use a support system to enhance motivation – Like the popular saying goes, if you want to travel fast, go alone but if you want to travel far, go with someone. It is very true in the Christian journey. It is a long one filled with hurdles and you may get weary if you are travelling alone.
• Use Bible study to boost your knowledge– Personal Bible study will be easier to practice if you fellowship with others to study. 1 Timothy 4:13
• Get used to journaling: Come to Bible study with writing materials and create time to refer back to them. Writing helps you internalize.
• Accept challenge: Stop shirking off responsibilities or tasks assigned to you. Take them as challenge for self-improvement.
• Give room for mistakes: It is okay to fail and try again. The next time you would try, you have learnt something from the past failure which would make you become better.
• Refuse to compromise – Stand for what you believe and stay faithful. Stop being over permissive; trying to reduce standards of God in the guise of being accommodating. Respect other people’s believes as a basic human right but do get involved subtly in any act that questions your Christian value.
• Get rid of Bitterness/grudges – If you hold grudges against God, a member or even yourself, it will discourage you from committing to the faith. Sometimes we may hold sentiments against God for allowing some unfortunate events happen to us or for not giving answers to certain prayers. This weakens our confidence in Him and causes us to lose interest in worship. Hebrew 12:15
• Join or form a team – Do not be deceived to think you are the only person capable of taking certain roles in the church. It makes you take too much on yourself and leaves you feeling frustrated when you cannot meet up. Elisha felt overwhelmed believing he was the only prophet left but God told him he still had 7,000 faithful Israelites (1 Kings 19:14-18). Moses was also going to wear himself out bearing the burden of ministry by himself until Jethro, his father-in-law advised him to delegate (Exodus 18:14-26)
• Use Positive words to affirm yourself  and keep a positive mind – There is power in the tongue and this is why it is important to only use kind and positive words on ourselves. Negative utterances against ourselves demoralizes. It makes one give up on self even before trying.
• Pray without ceasing – Develop a praying culture both privately and in groups. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
• Believe in yourself – Of course you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you – Philippians 4:13.

Benefits of Overcoming Spiritual Laziness (Fervency/Diligence)

Diligence or fervency is the opposite of slothfulness. So to overcome spiritual laziness is to become diligent or fervent in the Christian faith. Someone said “diligence is the panacea for all diseases of the Christian life.” Perhaps that is why Peter recommended it to be used developing our productivity in the Christian faith (2 Peter 1: 5-8). 

Why do we need to be diligent?

1. It brings Honor and Authority – Proverbs 12: 24,27; 22:29
2. It makes one resourceful and brings abundance – Proverbs 10:4
3. It brings fulfillment – Proverbs 13:4
4. It is a command – Romans 12:11
5. It brings God’s reward – Colossians 3:23-24 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

CONCLUSION

Luke 6: 46-49 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? …”

Christianity does not begin and end in calling on the name of the Lord only. It requires efforts and diligence.

Proverbs 6:6-11 shares some powerful lessons about diligence found among ants despite their size. The lessons are useful for Christians as well in overcoming spiritual laziness. 

Spiritual laziness is the prevailing sin ravaging Christendom and society today. There is no room to sit on the fence. If you are ready to follow Jesus, you have to be equipped with zeal and focus and you have to be battle ready because there are a lot of things to contend with (Ephesians 6:12) else, one may become lethargic; bearing only the title but not living for Christ in reality.

Hebrews 11:6 – Anyone coming to God must believe He exists and that He rewards those who DILLIGENTLY seek Him. (Emphasis on DILLIGENTLY SEEKING GOD)

Deuteronomy 4:9- Be careful and watch yourself closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

2 Peter 1: 10-11

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 6:10-12

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Reflections

Think about how you relate with someone you are in love with. Now compare that relationship with the one you have with God.

• How would you describe your relationship with God?
• Can you see Him as your husband? Isaiah 54:5
• How do you feel in His presence? Excited? Bored? (During Study, worship)
• Have you considered relating with Him like He is physically beside you every time?
• Is the Holy Spirit a guest in your heart/home or a part of your home?
• How eager are you to have a date with Him? He is punctual to be with you on scheduled worship days. Are you?
• How long do you talk to Him before you fall asleep? (During prayers)
• Do you ever reminisce on your conversations with Him? (Meditation)
• Do you feel His presence everywhere you go?
• Is there any fire or live in your devotion to God?

This salvation that we have and probably take for granted cost God His only son and it cost Christ his precious life. Do you have any idea what he went through to secure salvation for us? Hardly will anyone die for even a righteous person, yet Christ died for sinners to redeem us back to God (Romans 5:6-8). Do we show our gratitude by being lazy spiritually?

Having identified the causes of spiritual laziness, let us examine ourselves and be careful in these last days – 2 Corinthians 13: 5, 1 Corinthians 10:12.

Slothfulness is a sin of omission that invites sin due to inactivity. The devil engages such person and begin to dull their senses. He will keep them distracted with material things, dim their passion for God and dampen their trust in God’s ability. By the time such person realize themselves (if they ever do), they are far from where they had begun their spiritual walk with God.

NOTE: It is easier to commit to God when your heart is in it. Matthew 22: 37, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20

Let us make room for God and ask Him to put fire or life into any area of our lives that is currently experiencing lethargy and constantly increase our love for Him.

Thank you for reading.

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