Proverbs 18:9
One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.
The slacker destroys productivity. Products, service, goals are sacrificed. He destroys morale, as others are influenced to have the same attitude or frustrated so that they become less productive. He destroys teamwork, as others become not only angry with him but with supervisors for not managing him well. He destroys his own future, his laziness becoming the obstacle that he cannot get around.
But the problem of the slacker is that he does not recognize that he is one. He attributes his lack of productivity to others – to the bureaucracy he works under; to the supervisor who doesn’t manage well; to his colleagues who don’t understand how he works; to his parents for not raising him well; to his spouse who doesn’t appreciate him; to whomever he can remotely place blame.
He may even think that he is productive. He is pleased with his output, especially if he works with others who also have low productivity. That is why he and others are resentful of the worker who comes in and immediately out-performs them. His laziness is played out in different ways: he simply moves slowly; he is easily distracted; he is unmotivated and shows his disinterest; he enjoys talking; he may work busily but disorganized (too lazy to organize himself).
You are likely to be thinking of some lazy workers now. But be sure to examine yourself. Remember, the slacker’s problem is not recognizing his own laziness. Also examine how you are influenced by the slacker. Is he affecting the way you do your job. Are you blaming him for your poor attitude? Remember, the slacker is quick to blame others for his failings. Your Master for whom you work is Jesus Christ: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:23-24).
2 Thessalonians 2
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Stand Firm
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits[b] to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings[c] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.