Have you ever had a big task ahead of you, but didn't really feel like tackling it?

Strangely, in college I always got the desire to thoroughly clean my bedroom when I had homework to do or a big test to study for. I knew starting to study meant the beginning of a lot of studying, and sometimes I just didn’t feel like taking all that on in the moment — so I didn’t.

Maybe you’ve done something similar with other tasks: a long paper assignment, staying after practice to work extra, completing chores, initiating a tough conversation with someone, reading the Bible. We know these things involve a lot of work, thought and effort, so we come up with excuses (usually lame ones) and end up doing something else or doing nothing at all.

We convince ourselves that what we are doing isn’t really a big deal, and we will find time later. I know I’ve told myself, “I’m not doing nothing — my room is getting cleaned!” But often times the joke was on me as I found myself underprepared for tests or quizes and would turn around and complain that professors were making them too difficult because, well, it couldn’t be my fault, right?

The Bible uses the term "sluggard" to describe people like this, and it doesn't mince words when talking about such people (see Proverbs 6:6-11; 13:4; 21:25,26; 18:9, Hebrews 6:12). They are often associated with laziness, foolishness, poverty and even destruction (Proverbs 18:9). The Bible does command "rest,” but condemns when this privilege becomes abused and bleeds into laziness and slothful living.

In fact, God always intended for people to work. Genesis 2:15 says, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (ESV) And this was before the fall! Work wasn’t punishment, but a gift from God to Adam and part of perfect communion with God.

Adopting this mindset can be difficult because, let’s be honest, when does work ever sound better than a good Netflix binge? One more episode or show always exists, but when I am standing before God at the end of my life, do I want quoting all the lines from The Office to be the greatest work I offer before Him?

We must recognize the tendency to offer excuses instead of actions in our lives and work to fight against it. Let's take that step, move forward and work hard no matter what the task may be. We'll see that God honors this type of person (Matthew 25:14-30) and we'll actually get some worthwhile things accomplished!

Reflect:Are you holding back from a task or making any and every excuse not to take action? What can you do today to embrace work and avoid laziness?