3 SIGNS OF MENTAL LAZINESS

PHYSICAL laziness has a lot of repercussions but have you ever stopped to consider the suicidal implications of mental laziness? In the Bible, Proverbs 12:27 tells us the difference between physical laziness and mental laziness. The New International Version renders this verse as “The lazy do not roast any game but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.” Hunting is a very engaging activity. It involves going into the bush for several days, running after animals, protecting oneself against predators while perspiring. Yet if you do all that and succeed in catching game but do not roast your booty, the Bible calls you a lazy person.

On the other hand, the person who is able to process and enjoy the benefits of the hunt is labelled diligent. No matter how hard you work to get something, you are lazy if you stop midway. This kind of laziness is mental laziness. It is when you give up because you are tired or you feel you have done enough. Mental laziness is when you stop pushing through because something is not easy.

Let’s look at three signs of mental laziness.

1. REFUSING TO THINK

Henry Ford (1863-1947), the industrialist who founded the Ford Motor Company posited that “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” Although thinking does not require permission or payment, many people find it hard to think. And because it is considered hard, many people do not engage in it. But for people who are not lazy, thinking is a tool for creating their own world, explaining the enigmas of their lives and confronting the perplexities that frustrate them.

Lazy people refuse to break the barrier to thinking. They send their minds on vacation. For any area of your life where your mind is on vacation, you will not be able to exercise dominion in that area. Thinking is an original activity. It is something you train yourself to do. Thinkers lead the world.

     2. HIDING BEHIND GOD

MENTAL laziness is when a person who has been duly elected by citizens as head of state declares that “God is the president of this country.” Mental laziness is when an unemployed graduate who has not taken time to learn how to present a resumé or conduct oneself at an interview hops across several prayer camps trusting that God will intervene. Mental laziness is when an entrepreneur who has not learnt the art of reinvesting their earnings into their business regularly fasts and attends prayer meetings to seek growth in their business.

Very often, when we have to rise to the occasion, we go to sleep and “leave things in the hands of God” sending our minds on vacation. But the fact of the matter is that if you don’t train your mind, you cannot experience God’s goodness. During the period of Jesus’ earthly ministry, everything He preached was premised on the admonition that we should “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17, NKJV). In clearer terms, Jesus meant that God’s favour, goodness and salvation are within our reach but to benefit fully, we must radically change the way we think.

If you are mentally lazy, no amount of divine intervention will catapult you to the next level of your life. Yes, divine intervention is crucial but it does not replace hard work and smart thinking. Prayer is good but if you really want to transform your life, you must engage your mind. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Don’t be lazy. Think. Think. Think.

     3. MAKING EXCUSES

“THE lazy person claims, ‘There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!’” (Proverbs 26:13, NLT). This biblical image presents the image of a person who needs to step out of their comfort zone to get something done. Then they imagine that if they get out there, something will go wrong so they won’t go. It’s like an athlete who says that “If I go to the field to train, I could be inflicted with injury so I’ll stay home and watch TV.” Such suppositions are mere excuses. Excuses are false justifications for doing what we want to do or for not doing what we ought to do.

Sometimes, instead of taking time to thoughtfully ponder over a matter, we invent a reason and lay the matter aside. Some of the lines we use to give excuses are “It’s not my job,” “This is difficult, I can’t do it,” “This has never been done before,” “It will not work,” “This is how it’s always been done,” and “There is no other option.” If you find yourself giving these reasons for doing or not doing certain things, then you have some traits of laziness.

YOU are what you think. Don’t be mentally lazy. If you like the current condition of your life, keep thinking. If you don’t like where you are, start thinking. By all means, trust God but think smart too. Don’t surrender to obstacles. Don’t bow to excuses. Think through. Exercise your mind.

© 2013 Terry Mante

CEO, Personal Development Network (PEDNET)

Accra, Ghana

 

BELIEVE

Terry Mante

BELIEVE. "If you can BELIEVE, all things are POSSIBLE to him who believes" (Mark 9:23, NKJV). BELIEVE in God. He makes all things possible. BELIEVE in yourself. Nothing will happen in your life without your permission. BELIEVE in your abilities. They are your equipment for success. BELIEVE in your dreams. They are the attraction of your future. BELIEVE! BELIEVE!! BELIEVE!!!

HOW TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND

MANY times, when we look around us we don’t like what we see. We see our scarcity and limitations. We see relationships that are causing us distress. We look at our wayward children and we feel overwhelmed. We check our bank balance and we feel hopeless. We see our problems and we wish that a miracle will happen.

Miracles happen. But sometimes, you are the miracle that must happen to turn around your situation. Sometimes, the miracle you look out for can be found in you.

In the ancient Palestine city of Capernaum, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field’” (Matthew 9:35-38, NIV).

THE PARADOX OF LIFE

CAPERNAUM was regarded as Jesus’ own town because it was from this city that He operated His public ministry. The city was wealthy due to fishing and trade. The city also hosted a customs duty and the Roman garrison that protected the entire region of Galilee. Its culture was heavily influenced by Greek and Roman manners, dress, architecture and politics. Capernaum by all indications had the marks of a prosperous, well-organised and secure city. Yet, the people were harassed and helpless like sheep without shepherd. In other words, they were weary, confused and scattered with no sense of direction.

My wonder is this: How can you live in such a city and be disillusioned? Is it possible to live in a place of opportunity and still be overwhelmed by your problems? The Congo River regarded as the world’s deepest river (220m), the third largest river in the world by volume of water discharged and ninth longest river (4700km). River Congo has enormous potential to boost agriculture, aquaculture, transportation and energy. In fact, it is the most powerful river in Africa. It is estimated that during the rainy season, over 50,000 cubic metres of water flows into the Atlantic Ocean each second. Consequently, there is massive opportunity to generate hydro-electric power sufficient for all of sub-Saharan Africa’s energy requirements. Did you see that? River Congo alone can defeat Africa’s energy challenge.

A substantial part of this region lies right in the Tropical Zone, implying abundant sunlight which could also be tapped to produce electricity. If we consider the huge reserve of crude oil and uranium, the challenge of energy should not be a Goliath for Africa. Yet for many Africans, darkness is as real as the sun is. The condition of the indigenes of Capernaum is similar to the condition of the people of Africa. We are harassed and helpless.

THE WAY OUT

1.     Compassion. Jesus had compassion on the people. He was concerned about the misfortunes of the people. This concern moved Him to preach, teach and heal all over the city. He did not remain apathetic. He identified the needs of the people and felt that something should be done about them. He put Himself in the shoes of the people and decided to help them.

2.  Leadership. The people looked like sheep without shepherd. That was the root of their problem. They had no sense of leadership and direction. Definitely, the city’s economy, culture and civilization portrayed that the political leadership was somewhat up and doing but the people themselves had no sense of initiative. Because of that, they could not tap into the opportunities that surrounded them. The only way we can deal with the issues in our lives is to exercise initiative; to lead ourselves out of our frustrations. Jesus modeled this through His preaching, teaching and healing ministry.

3.  Interpretation. Speaking to His disciples, Jesus remarked that, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” He looked at these harassed people and called them the “harvest.” What is a harvest? Jesus used “harvest” as a metaphor to refer to a people who are ready, available and willing to make their lives meaningful. These same people were the “harvest” Jesus referred to. How can a harassed and helpless people be referred to as a harvest? Jesus was speaking to the potential of those people. He looked beyond their hopelessness and focused on what could come out of them. When you look at your problems, do you imagine how the solution would look like? That must become your mental reality. Don’t make what you see with your eyes your stark reality. You can create a new reality with your mind. The pictures you form in your mind become your actual reality.

 

4.    Commissioning. Jesus recommended that what these harassed and helpless people needed to realize their potential was for the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His field. Every problem is a potential opportunity but you need to be commissioned to be able to tackle the problem. Commissioning means being empowered to address a particular issue. This empowerment comes when you pray to God to reveal to you the talent and ideas He has equipped you with. You also need to pray for divine enablement. Divine enablement is what we normally refer to in Christian circles as anointing. Then get to work. You can’t fail.

YOUR turnaround moment is here. What are you compassionate about? Exercise leadership and see the potential. Then seek to be commissioned by the Almighty. Don’t be overwhelmed. You will make it.

© 2013 Terry Mante

Personal Development Network (PEDNET)

Accra, Ghana