Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him.

Proverbs 10:26

I am sure you have worked in a place where there have been lazy colleagues. These lazy people are irritating and make the work difficult. They are not easy to work with and sometimes test our patience. They are like sour vinegar and annoying smoke in the eyes. The lazy man is trouble and offers very little help to those who employ him. The lazy are a constant irritation and disappointment is to be expected when they are concerned.

Compare this attitude to that of Christ. He finished the work he was sent to do. He was relentless in working for the Father. Christ will not send a slothful man into his harvest. We must have the right mindset and heart attitude concerning Gospel work. We are encouraged in Scripture to labour for the Kingdom. The moral of the verse is this. If you ask a lazy man to do a job it may never get done, but if you ask a hard-working man the job will get done.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, the Bible says, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” The Bible tells us that anyone who refuses to work shall not eat. Notice how the Scripture says, “if anyone is not willing to work.” Some people cannot work for legitimate reasons such as health. The Bible is clear that the Christian ought to have a good work ethic and do his work to the best of his ability. What is your attitude to work? Do you carry out your work to the best of your ability? Do you seek to help your work colleagues?