Excuses

The Bible warns us about the consequences of being a “sluggard.” These are people who find it difficult to take action, who are governed by laziness or bad habits. Instead of taking action, they see “lions” everywhere. Such things may seem like dangers to a sluggard, but they really are just excuses.

Perhaps dominated by fear or uncertainty, sluggards escape into inaction. Instead of being bold and confident, they feel weak and insecure. Instead of trusting in God, they sleep away their opportunities. They may “take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth” (vs. 15, NLT). They are “wise in their own eyes,” filled with rationalizations and reasons for inaction.

The fact is that anyone can be a sluggard at times. As we think about the world around us, it can be easy to feel insecure or inadequate. We can be reluctant to tackle the unknown. Faced with giants, we can feel weak and helpless.

But the Bible says that “the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). They can be bold because they trust God. Their lives have been transformed by the power of the Spirit. They are confident that He is with them in every situation, and they know they can do “all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). They’re convinced that through Jesus “we are more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37 NKJV).

Today, ask God to help you to be a person of faith. Don’t give in to fear, but trust God. Don’t be timid or look for excuses. Rather, be bold as a lion, confident of God’s protection, power, and presence with you.