The Peril of Idleness

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. ~Exodus 32:1

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Whenever you cut your finger, it is vitally important that the wound is thoroughly cleansed and treated to eliminate the risk of an infection. If a wound becomes infected, the individual is at risk for sickness, loss of limb, and even death. This morning, we want to be cautioned against another kind of infection, one that is so insidious that it will greatly hinder our Christian life. This is the infection of idleness.

There is the reason for idleness.

Idleness is when someone sits around with nothing to do. They make wasteful use of their time. It is to allow time to waste away. It is to leave oneself exposed to unrestrained thinking and actions. It is the gateway by which temptation enters in and entices a person to do things that they should not do. It occurs by neglecting to make provision for downtime, delays, or abrupt changes. It occurs when you are left by yourself with no plans to fill up your time.

There is the ruin in idleness.

In our passage this morning, we see the effect of idleness. Moses went up to Mount Sinai to be with the Lord for forty days. The children of Israel were down below in the camp area. Aaron had been left in charge of them. Aaron and the leaders failed to structure the daily schedule of the Israelites while Moses was away. The result was the people had too much idle time on their hands. Idleness became the means by which they started thinking and conferring among themselves about satisfying their fleshly lusts. The people forced Aaron to lead them into idol worship, similar to what they saw and practiced in Egypt. Idol worship was accompanied by unrestrained lusts and immoral practices. When Moses came back down and saw the chaos in the camp, he saw firsthand how quickly idleness can move a person to sin. Idleness infects your thinking with evil thoughts. Idleness leads you to use your time in a dishonorable way. Idleness can steal your heart from God. Idleness becomes the devil’s workshop.

There is the remedy for idleness.

First, we must establish a firm structure for our daily schedule. This structure should be planned in 30-60 minute increments as to what you will do and where you will be. Second, we should set some goals for this structure. Goals are worthwhile things that you seek to accomplish. Third, we should make provision for downtime, delays, or cancellations. This will include having something to read, letters to write, and work that needs to be done. The best means to deal with idleness is by always filling up your time.

Unamuno, the Spanish philosopher, tells of the Roman aqueduct at Segovia, in his native Spain. It was built in A.D. 109. For eighteen hundred years, it carried cool water from the mountains to the hot and thirsty city. Nearly sixty generations of men drank from its flow. Then came another generation, a recent one, who said, "This aqueduct is so great a marvel that it ought to be preserved for our children, as a museum piece. We shall relieve it of its centuries-long labor." They did, and they laid modern iron pipes. They gave the ancient bricks and mortar a reverent rest, and the aqueduct began to fall apart. The sun beating on the dry mortar caused it to crumble. The bricks and stones sagged and threatened to fall. What ages of service could not destroy, idleness disintegrated.

Don’t be infected with idleness! Avoid idleness at all cost! Don’t be someone sitting around doing nothing or doing unprofitable things.

Have a well-planned God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 46-50

#Exodus #Idleness