Apicontent

The fact is that in life there are authority structures. In governments, in businesses, in churches, in homes, some people are leaders over others. In different situations, indeed, each of us is a follower and a leader. Except in certain limited situations, to reject or undermine properly instituted authority is to rebel against the order God has established in human society.

Some people seem to be rebels and dissenters by nature. Using either passive or aggressive tactics (maybe both), they seek to overthrow the authority that others have over them. Obeying rankles with them, and so they do it as little as possible.

Rebellion against human authority figures is always rebellion against God in an indirect sense because it means refusing to accept the order He has established. But there is also such a thing as direct rebellion against God. Some people refuse to obey His commands in Scripture or His individual leading in their lives.

The truth is, the most unhappy people in the world are not unbelievers, many of whom are ignorantly and blissfully happy in their sin, albeit temporarily; the most unhappy people in the world are Christians who resist the will of God for their lives.

If obedience is a virtue that does not come easily to you, you can learn it with God’s help. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, “He learned obedience from the things He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). Seek the Holy Spirit for the ability to eliminate the ugliness of rebellion from your life and replace it with the beauty of obedience.

[The above article is an extract from Chapter 17 of Soul Prescription by Bill Bright and Henry Brandt.]

Are you struggling with a form of rebellion against authority? We have outlined a five-step process to help you change and heal in this area of your life. Take all the time you need with each of the steps below.

Step 1:  Adopt a Correct View of God

If you have a tendency toward rebellion, chances are good that your view of God has become skewed in some way. Perhaps you see God as a tyrant, selfishly wanting everything His own way. Your reaction to Him, then, could spill over to your relationships with other authority figures. Consider these points:

God’s commandments are fair and good.

He is the Rock; His deeds are perfect. Everything He does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright He is! (Deuteronomy 32:4)

God will hold us accountable for our rebellion.

The LORD is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But He does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations. (Numbers 14:18)

Embark on a study of the justice and sovereignty of God as reflected in Scripture. Keep an open mind as you encounter biblical truth, asking God to change your view of Him to make it more nearly conformed to the truth.

Step 2:  Revise Your False Beliefs

If you have mistaken ideas about people and the world, you will rebel against authority figures and especially the greatest Authority Figure of them all–God. Evaluate your beliefs with the following questions:

Do you believe you are not subject to properly instituted authorities?

Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. (Romans 13:1)

Do you believe you can defy authority without consequences?

You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the warnings!” (Proverbs 5:12)

Do you believe God’s commandments and will are unreasonable?

I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to Your commandments. (Psalm 119:45)

Trace the theme of obedience through Scripture. In the process, test your beliefs about how families, businesses, churches, and society should operate. Choose to accept the principle of obedience to proper authority.

Step 3:  Repent of Your Sin

Where does your rebellion usually manifest itself? At home? In church? At work? In society at large? Toward God? Is your problem disobedience, insubordination, lawlessness, insolence, scoffing, or disrespect? Pinpoint your sin habit. Admit it to yourself. Own it.

When you are ready, pray the following prayer in faith, trusting that God will forgive your sin and empower your obedience.

God, You have established structures of authority to make things work better for Your children. Yet I have sometimes strived not to support but to break down those structures. In particular, I am guilty of _________. It is a sin, and I am sorry for it. Please forgive me now. Cleanse me entirely of my sin of __________. Then fill me with Holy Spirit power to enable me to resist the temptation of rebellion from now on. In the name of Christ the King, amen.

If you have harmed others with your sin, apologize to them. Seek reconciliation and offer restitution where appropriate.

Step 4:  Defend against Spiritual Attacks

Don’t breathe too big a sigh of relief after repenting of rebellion. Attacks from the world, the flesh, and the Devil are all but inevitable now. These spiritual enemies want to draw you back into disobedience to God.

• The world system tells us, “The way to a good life is to have total freedom and do whatever you want.” Would God agree? Of course not. He says, “True freedom comes from submitting to proper authorities, especially Mine.” Overcome the world by rejecting its values and embracing God’s.
• Your flesh, or sinful nature, has always enjoyed the sense of power and autonomy that comes from rebelling against authority. It craves to get that feeling back. What you need to do is remember that your flesh is already dead; you have no need to obey its dictates. Obey the Spirit and not the flesh.
• The Devil is hatching schemes to tempt you to rebel again, doing damage to you and others in the process. Among the other pieces of spiritual armor listed in Ephesians 6, put on the helmet of salvation to protect your mind from Satan’s poisonous thoughts.

The attacks of the world, the flesh, and the Devil are formidable, but not impossible to defeat. With God acting in your life, you are more than able to repel each assault thrown at you.

Step 5:  Flee Temptation

Take practical steps to avoid sliding back into rebellion and to cement an attitude of obedience in your heart.

Focus on your relationship with God.

In your devotional and worship times, focus on God as King over all the universe. Learning to be obedient to this Sovereign will help you be obedient in all areas of life.

Latch on to God’s promises.

Find helpful verses in Scripture and then commit them to memory to help you in your struggles against the temptation to rebel. One such verse for you may be the following:

The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. (Psalm 19:8)

Establish safeguards.

Think about the usual sources of temptation for you to rebel. Identify precautions you can take to protect yourself from those sources. Let the following examples spark your imagination:

• If you tend to be insubordinate to your boss, start calling this person “sir” or “ma’am” as a reminder of the respect you owe.
• If you are inclined to scoff at church leaders’ direction, take the lowliest position of service in the church you can find—and fulfill it without complaint.
• If you tend to be critical of government officials, send a card of thanks to your congressional representative the next time he or she does something honorable.
• Ask a trusted Christian friend to hold you accountable in your commitment to not rebel against authority.

Expect victory.

Developing a submissive spirit is not easy, but you have the Holy Spirit living in you and producing in you a spirit of obedience. Be confident and rejoice in every sign of progress.

Richard’s wife had a firm, unshakable conviction that it was the duty and responsibility of the man of the house to take out the garbage. So, every morning after he kissed her goodbye, she would hand him a bag or two of garbage. His normal routine was to grab the bags, storm out of the house, and slam the garbage into the can.

“That takes care of your old garbage,” he would mutter to no one as he got into his car and squealed around the corner. This was a twenty-year battle.

Then Richard discovered the love of God, and that God’s love is always kind. It startled him to realize what an unkind act and rebellious attitude he had when he was taking out the garbage every morning. God convicted him of his sin and Richard repented. He still carries out the garbage, it is still a concession, but now Richard does it with a kindly spirit toward his wife.

Upon further reflection, Richard discovered that he carried out many of his other daily duties with the same rebellious attitude. He was actually the architect of a lot of unhappiness in his life. Each time God brought a rebellious action or attitude to his attention, Richard repented of it and let the love of God heal his miserable spirit. Without changing a single detail in his life, he began enjoying the responsibilities of his life instead of seeing them as distasteful chores and duties.

In what way has rebellion weaseled its way into your life? Are you willing to allow God to heal you of this destructive attitude and bring joy and peace into your life?

[Dr. Henry Brandt shares insights from his counseling sessions. The names and certain details in these true case histories have been changed to protect each person’s identity and privacy.]

Irresponsibility manifests itself in many ways. Some people are irresponsible with time. They are habitually late for engagements, causing other people inconvenience as a result. Or they procrastinate, putting off doing what they know they ought to do. Others are irresponsible with material objects. They borrow things from others and either forget to return them or else let them become damaged while in their possession. Or they may take poor care of their own possessions, letting their homes and workplaces get messy or run down. They forget that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” and that we are to “be sure that everything is done properly and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40).

Some people seem to be negligent, careless, and inconsistent in every area of life. Should you depend on them to fulfill what they promised? You had better not. Should you trust them to help you out if you are not keeping an eye on them? Certainly not.

What’s behind all this is usually an attitude problem, whether it goes by the name of apathy, boredom, or lethargy.

We need to sense that our lives are a part of the great story God is writing in history! We need to understand that by obeying Him in our duties and relationships we are helping to build an everlasting kingdom! With the right perspective, our attitudes can change from apathy to enthusiasm. And our sin habits of irresponsibility can be replaced by the virtue of diligence.

If you have an ongoing problem with some type of irresponsibility, what we are not asking of you is some type of resolution to do better. We are not asking you to force yourself to do better on the job, at home, or wherever you tend to be irresponsible. If we asked this kind of self-effort from you, you would likely be no more successful than the people who show up at the gym with brand-new exercise clothes in January hoping that this is the year they will finally get in shape, only to discover in a month or two that they have lost their motivation, discipline, or desire.

What we are asking of you is that you begin praying for help and committing yourself, in the grace of God, to fulfill the responsibilities He has laid on your heart. Seek the Lord, repent of your sin, and rely on the Spirit’s empowering. Only in this way will you be able to acquire the virtue of diligence—and keep it. Begin the healing process by embodying the virtue of diligence in every responsibility the Lord gives you. It is a privilege to serve Him with all that lies within us.

______________________________________________

[The above article is an extract from Chapter 18 of Soul Prescription by Bill Bright and Henry Brandt.]

Are you struggling with being irresponsible? We have outlined a five-step process to help you change and heal in this area of your life. Take all the time you need with each of the steps below.

Step 1:  Adopt a Correct View of God

A poor conception of God may well lie behind your problem with irresponsibility. For example, if you see God as an uncaring and detached deity, you will likely have the same attitude toward life. Are the following points ones you need to take to heart?

God is absolutely concerned about every aspect of our lives.

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31)

God uses His power on our behalf.

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

In your Bible, read a sampling of some of the key events in salvation history, such as creation, the call of Abram, the exodus, and so on. Examine these events from the perspective of God’s activity in the world. Begin to develop a picture of God as a deity who is far from apathetic or irresponsible toward His creation.

Step 2:  Revise Your False Beliefs

Irresponsibility is fed by erroneous beliefs about life and one’s place in it. How might your false views have helped to make you irresponsible? Ask yourself the following questions:

Do you believe you cannot make any real changes in your world?

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Do you believe that the needs of others are none of your concern?

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Goodbye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? (James 2:15–16)

Use a concordance to help you trace the themes of laziness and diligence through the Scriptures. Seek God’s help to correct your unbiblical views of life as they apply to irresponsibility.

Step 3:  Repent of Your Sin

What type of irresponsibility is your downfall? Name it and disclaim it. Pray a simple prayer of repentance, and ask God to supernaturally motivate you into action.

God, I have been guilty of __________. I know it is sinful, and I am sorry for the way I have let You down. Forgive me now, I pray. Wash away the stain of this sin. Make me over into a person who uses Your power to reject irresponsibility and embrace a diligent lifestyle—one that pleases You. I ask these things in Christ’s name, amen.

If you have harmed others with your sin, apologize to them. Seek reconciliation and offer restitution where appropriate.

Step 4:  Defend against Spiritual Attacks

Now that you have repented, watch out for demotivating spiritual attacks. They are certain to occur.

• In the world system, responsibility is not a high value in itself. The world would tell you to only do what you need to in order to get by—everything else is a waste. But God’s values in this area are quite different. He wants diligence to be a regular part of your nature. You can overcome the world by rejecting its values and embracing God’s values instead.
• Laziness and other types of irresponsibility are pleasurable to your flesh (sinful nature)—they are easy and comfortable. The flesh will desire to get that kind of pleasure back. But you must recall that your flesh is really dead now, because of Christ. You are a new person and are to obey the Spirit and not the flesh.
• The Devil is scheming to draw you back to your old ways of irresponsibility. Put on all the armor of God to defend against him (Ephesians 6:10–18). If you will resist the Devil in God’s power, you can defeat him.

The quickest way to become irresponsible in life again is to be irresponsible about defending against spiritual attacks. Such attacks will come, and you should be ready for them. But remember that God will be empowering you and helping you be successful every time.

Step 5:  Flee Temptation

The best way to avoid being tempted to lie on the couch and watch the world go by is to just do something. Take these active steps to be a more active person.

Focus on your relationship with God.

Begin your new, more disciplined life by maintaining your spiritual disciplines with God. He has something for you to do; ask Him what it is.

Latch on to God’s promises.

Find Bible verses that speak encouragement to you in your struggle against irresponsibility. Commit the verses to memory and use them when temptation arises. Here is one you may find valuable:

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. (Isaiah 40:29)

Establish safeguards.

What inspires you to be irresponsible? Do whatever it takes to block such influences from your life. These are examples of the kinds of things you can do:

• If you are lazy, make a “to-do” list of the things you ought to accomplish.
• If you tend to procrastinate, create a calendar with all the deadlines for the things you are supposed to do.
• If you typically leave your bedroom a mess, set your alarm a few minutes earlier so you can straighten it up every morning.
• Ask a trusted Christian friend to hold you accountable in your commitment to not be irresponsible any longer.

Expect victory.

The Holy Spirit will motivate you into action if you will yield your heart to Him. Trust Him to make you a diligent person. Look forward to the victory He will give.

It takes diligence and perseverance to be a parent! Dr. Brandt relates this story from his childhood:

I can remember how when I was a teenager I tried to talk my mother into letting me go out after she said I could not go. I approached her with something like this, “Awe, come on Mom, won’t you please let me go out? Please, Mom?”

I tried to make myself look and sound as pathetic as possible, appealing to her sympathy and her motherly instinct. Surely she would concede to someone who was pleading as much as I was.

What do you do with a child who is playing the martyr, one who tries to put on a sincere act and tries to cajole something out of you that is against the limits?

She said no.

“Please, Mom, please let me go out?” I asked again.

She said no.

I decided there was no use being decent. It was necessary for me to try something else.

“So you say you love me, huh? How could any mother who loved her child treat me the way you are treating me? Can I go?”

She said no.

“But, Mom, everyone else but me is going. You wouldn’t want to make a freak out of me, would you? Can I go?”

Once more, the same answer.

What else could I think of? You see, my objective was to get out of the house any way possible – whether through lying, flattery, or whatever.

But my best line was always playing the role of the victim. I figured my trump card was always this line, “So you call yourself a Christian. How could any Christian mother treat her child like this? Can’t I please go?”

She did not burst into self-defense. She had respect for my attempts to resist her plan. All she said was no.

That used to make me so angry! I would retaliate by using all the ingenuity and creativity I could come up with to make life miserable for my mother until I went to bed.

When I was defeated, I would go to bed thinking, “How does a guy get saddled with a parent like that? Boy, if only I would die, then she’d be sorry.” I pictured myself in a coffin, my mother looking down at my dead body. In my imagination, I fired this thought off to my grieving mother: Serves you right!

There was no point in appealing to Dad. He would just back Mom up. Yet in my better moments, I was aware that they loved me. I sense that they had an attitude of approval and a real affection for me.

Children sometimes fervently want something they should not have. Yes, parents must respect their children and take their wants into consideration, but the decisions must finally be based on what is in the best interests of their children.

After I grew up, married, and had children of my own, I was amazed when I heard some of the same reasoning come out of the mouths of my kids!

Are you willing to parent your children, really parent them? Seek God and ask for his guidance in helping you to diligently discipline your children in a loving way. Repent of the times you have not been the parent you know you should have been. Focus on God’s plan for your life as a parent and for the development of your children. He will help you to experience joy!

[Dr. Henry Brandt shares insights from his counseling sessions. The names and certain details in these true case histories have been changed to protect each person’s identity and privacy.]

Rebellion

Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft. (1 Samuel 15:23, NLT2)

Evil people are eager for rebellion. (Proverbs 17:11, NLT2)

If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken! (Isaiah 1:19-20, NLT2)

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1-2, NIV)

Disobedience

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. (Ephesians 5:6, NLT2)

To obey is better than sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:22, NIV)

“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the LORD. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.” (Isaiah 30:1, NLT2)

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. Honor your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth. (Ephesians 6:1-3, NLT2)

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. (Hebrews 13:17, NLT2)

Authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. (Romans 13:3-7, NLT2)

Don’t be misled–you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:7-9, NLT2)

We can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3-6, NLT2)

We must obey God rather than any human authority. (Acts 5:29, NLT2)

Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the LORD your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28, NLT2)

If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. (Isaiah 48:18, NIV)

Insubordination

Obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. (Ephesians 6:5-8, NIV)

Now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. (Romans 16:17, NLT2)

Insolence

Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don’t speak with such arrogance! For the LORD is a God who knows what you have done; he will judge your actions. (1 Samuel 2:3, NLT2)

I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. (Isaiah 13:11, NIV)

I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. (Proverbs 8:13, NLT2)

To the arrogant I say, “Boast no more.” (Psalm 75:4, NIV)

Betrayal

Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. (Matthew 24:10, NIV)

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. (Mark 13:12, NIV)

Disrespect

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21, NIV)

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. (Romans 13:1, NLT2)

Each of you must respect his mother and father. (Leviticus 19:3, NIV)

Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:32, NLT2)

Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. (1 Peter 2:17, NLT2)

Obedience

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. (Romans 6:16, NLT2)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV)

Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. (Deuteronomy 11:26-27, NLT2)

This is what I told them: “Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!” (Jeremiah 7:23, NLT2)

If you love me, obey my commandments. (John 14:15, NLT2)

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. (John 14:21, NLT2)

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3-6, NLT2)

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. (Psalm 143:10, NLT2)

You must be careful to obey all the commands of the LORD your God, following his instructions in every detail. Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy. (Deuteronomy 5:32-33, NLT2)

Obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:22-24, NIV)

Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.(Colossians 3:20, NLT2)

I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. (Deuteronomy 30:16, NIV)

If you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the LORD your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he promised with an oath to your ancestors. (Deuteronomy 7:12, NLT2)

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Matthew 7:24-25, NIV)

Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. (Deuteronomy 29:9, NIV)

Anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:19, NLT2)

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. (John 15:10, NIV)

The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25, NIV)

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. (1 John 3:21-22, NIV)

For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Romans 2:13, NIV)

Irresponsibility

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good–bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”–but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? (James 2:15-16, NLT2)

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion––how can God’s love be in that person? (1 John 3:17, NLT2)

God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law. (Proverbs 28:9, NLT2)

If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your poor brother. (Deuteronomy 15:7, NIV)

Laziness

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. (Proverbs 12:24, NLT2)

Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry. (Proverbs 19:15, NLT2)

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. (Romans 12:11, NLT2)

Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.(Proverbs 13:4, NLT2)

Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich. A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace. (Proverbs 10:4-5, NLT2)

“Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, NLT2)

He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. (Proverbs 28:19, NIV)

The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. (2 Timothy 2:6, NASB95)

I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. (Proverbs 24:30-34, NIV)

If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat! (Proverbs 20:13, NLT2)

A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway. (Proverbs 15:19, NLT2)

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. (Proverbs 12:24, NLT2)

Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find. (Proverbs 12:27, NLT2)

A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things. (Proverbs 18:9, NLT2)

The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:16, NKJV)

Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work. (Proverbs 21:25, NLT2)

Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes. (Proverbs 10:26, NLT2)

Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest. (Proverbs 20:4, NLT2)

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest–then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. (Proverbs 6:6-11, NLT2)

Apathy

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. (Romans 12:11, NLT2)

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelations 3:15-16, NLT2)

Procrastination

He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62, NASB95)

For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, NLT2)

As the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:7-8, NIV)

Since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. (Hebrews 4:1-2, NIV)

So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 4:7, NLT2)

Negligence

My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him.” (2 Chronicles 29:11, NLT2)

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. (Psalm 119:16, NIV)

How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard. (Hebrews 2:3, NASB95)

We will not neglect the house of our God. (Nehemiah 10:39, NKJV)

Disorderliness

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. (1 Corinthians 14:33, NIV)

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. (2 Corinthians 12:20, NIV)

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. (James 3:16, NASB95)

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6, NIV)

We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6, NKJV)

We hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. (2 Thessalonians 3:11, NKJV)

Diligence

Do not neglect your gift … Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. (1 Timothy 4:14-15, NIV)

God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. (Hebrews 6:10-11, NLT2)

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23, NASB95)

As you abound in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us–see that you abound in this grace also. (2 Corinthians 8:7, NKJV)

Applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge. (2 Peter 1:5, NASB95)

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. (2 Peter 1:10, NLT2)

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. (Ecclesiastes 9:10, NASB95)

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. (Romans 12:11, NLT2)

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (Proverbs 13:4, NIV)

The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24, NASB95)

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9, NIV)