Transcription
Death is something that I think a lot of us should think about more often. One book that I absolutely love is called Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, and it's about an old man who's about to die and he teaches his students some final lessons about life. And one of my favorite quotes in the book is "Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
And the idea is that when someone realizes they're going to die soon, they start spending their final moments doing things that matter. So this man pretty much says, "What if we can live with that mentality now while we're healthy instead of waiting until death is at our door?" And that's where this quote comes in. "Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
I just feel like in today's day and age that many people spend a lot of time on their phones, social media, or games. And I might be wrong, but if you were on your deathbed, would you think to yourself, "I wish I spent more time in my life scrolling through Instagram, or I wish I played a few more hours of my game." Or would you wish you have traveled more, or would you wish that you spent more time with your family or friends, or that you accomplished more with your life? Or would you wish that you went further in your walk with God?
You see, the Bible says that life is like a vapor and that it'll pass quickly. And a sad reality that many people will face one day is them realizing that they wasted much of their life doing things that don't really matter. I personally think that laziness is the killer of life's most precious commodity, time. So if you're someone that no longer wants to waste time, here are seven steps that will help you defeat laziness in your life.
Lastly, we're proud to announce that for a limited time only, we have just dropped some new merch. We're calling this Impact Choto-zutsu. I love this because in Japan where some of our team lives, this phrase can be translated "little by little." The goal is to remind people that in order to make an impact on the people around them, they need to focus on taking small steps in their walk with God. Unlike some of our other designs, we're offering this exclusively in apparel only. And guys, let me tell you, those hoodies are really comfy. So get yours today by using the link in the description below or clicking the tag products on your screen now. And if clothing isn't your thing, we still got you covered. We have some great looking designs that look awesome as stickers, pins, magnets, and even phone cases. We're also starting to roll out some of our awesome looking thumbnail designs for various products as well. So be on the lookout for those. Those will be dropping pretty soon.
Okay, back to the video. Step number one, find the root of your laziness. Luke chapter 6 verses 43 to 45. "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good. And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks."
In this passage, Jesus was teaching a multitude of people, and one of the things that he taught was this tree analogy. And he said that people are like trees. And in the same way that you have good trees that bear good fruit and bad trees that bear bad fruit, there are good people who bring forth good things and evil people that bring forth evil. And the word that I want you to pay attention to here is the word heart. So from the heart can either come good or evil things. So I want you to pay attention to this issue of laziness in your life. And then I want you to think of yourself like a tree. So if laziness is the fruit, where's the root that it's coming from? And this is a deep question that you need to think thoughtfully about.
For me personally, there were days where I spent most of it binging anime or playing games. And after I reflected, I realized that that laziness came from a place of my body needing rest. Because for me in my schedule, I'm constantly in meetings and writing and organizing and thinking. So some days I just feel exhausted and I can't muster the energy to do anything. Another time when I get lazy is when I have something incredibly difficult that I need to do. And in an effort to avoid that work, I'll shift to do something that I want to do like read comments on YouTube or play my Pokemon trading card game. But that's me. For you, you need to consider why you're wasting time. Like me, you might be someone that's working really hard at school or work and you genuinely just need to rest better. Or you might have an unhealthy relationship with your phone or a game, or maybe you're just depressed or you feel like you lack the motivation to do anything. Which if that's the case, you need to think deeply and ask why you feel depressed. Regardless, the goal for this step is for you to think like a tree and for you to identify the root of your laziness. Because I'd say that it's incredibly important for you to have clarity on what the problem is in order for you to actually defeat it.
Step number two, tear down altars in your life. Second Chronicles chapter 14 verses two to five. "Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. For he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment. He also observed high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah and the kingdom was quiet under him."
In this passage we see that the king of Judah did what was right in God's eyes and he tore down the altars to false gods. And the reason why I want to highlight this is because King Asa was intentional about tearing down altars that were dedicated to false gods. These altars were established, had pillars, and were loved by tons of people. So note that it was part of their culture and their everyday living. So for you, once you find the root of your laziness, the next step is to start hacking away at whatever is feeding the root. And that root is most likely connected to an altar that's used to worship a false god or idol. And while this sounds to be archaic and something that was done way back then, idol worship through altars is still very much prevalent in today's culture. It just looks different.
You see today's altars don't have idols like wooden or metal figures. Instead they look like phones, games, or people. I mean think about it. Back then people took time out of their day to worship and bow down to these false gods and they offered sacrifices to them. And today people give hours of their time, tons of their money, and so much of their attention and energy to things that don't really help them. So if being lazy is something that you struggle with, like King Asa, you need to be intentional about tearing down altars. So let's go through some examples.
If your altar is your phone where you give it a bunch of time, you're probably on it well over four hours a day. And you may have an issue with social media or just swiping through memes or binging reels, shorts, or videos. So if that's the case, it might be helpful for you to put limits on your phone and maybe give your passcode to a trusted friend. And if you don't have a trusted friend, I would encourage you to try to make one. And if that sounds hard to do, then try to imagine the end of your life like we talked about earlier in this video. Because either your connection to your phone dies or your goals in life will die.
If your altar is a video game and a particular game is taking countless hours of your life, I get it. I also love video games. However, there should be limits. I actually think some video games are healthy because it's a good way to connect to friends and they can be engaging. I'm currently playing the new Pokemon TCGP game and my wife and I trade cards, build decks, and we battle each other. But we make sure that God, work, ministry, friends, and family come before it. And we only play for a little bit at a time. And one thing that helps me not be addicted to video games is actually thinking of my own life like a video game. Currently, I'm trying to level up my Japanese. Also, I'm acquiring the skill fitness trainer, and I'm trying to get the achievements, have successful business, write book, and I'm trying to build my Bible teaching and strength stats. And maybe cardio too. And it's fun building a home in Japan with my wife. I like to think of it as a base for missions. And I'm currently trying to convince more people to be missionaries out here, which means that our party might grow. So for you, know that while it might not seem like it, life is better than a video game. It's okay to play some because it definitely is a way to connect and hang out with friends, but don't let them control your life. And I would say that one of the best ways to overcome a video game addiction is to find battles in your life that would actually benefit you IRL. So those are two things that may be alters dedicated to idols in your life.
So if the reason why you're lazy is because of depression or because of something else, I would encourage you to consider step number three, make good friends. Joshua chapter two, verse 24. "And they said to Joshua, truly, the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed, all the inhabitants of the country are faints hearted because of us."
In this passage, the children of Israel were about to go out to conquer the promised land. But before they did, their leader, Joshua, sent out two spies to get more information on their enemy. And the spies came back and told Joshua that the people of Jericho were fearful of them and that God was on Israel's side. And the reason why I bring this passage up is because Israel in the book of Joshua were full of winners. And with Joshua as their leader, Israel was a team that conquered. And something that I found is that when you surround yourself with strong people, over time, you'll grow to be like them.
Back when I was in college, I surrounded myself with people who loved God and served in ministry. And as I spent more and more time with them, one Bible study a week soon wasn't enough. My weekly schedule on top of work and school was going to three Bible studies, serving in ministry twice a week, volunteering for the city once or more a week, as well as going to camps, field trips, or retreats on the weekends. And one of the big reasons why I did all of this was because of the friend group that I had. And I know that all of that may sound like a lot of work, but my friends and I loved God and we were all passionate about our relationship with God and inviting people to our Bible studies. And like Joshua, I also experienced a lot of victory in my life in the form of spiritual growth.
So for you, one of the best things you can do if you want to overcome laziness is to befriend productive and disciplined people. Because if you do, pretty soon, they'll encourage you to be better. And you'll probably start to value the things that they value. First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 33 does say that evil company corrupts good habits. So if you want to defeat laziness in your life, I would say that one of the best things that you can do is to avoid people who are also lazy and to spend more time with people who aren't. And there's another reason why you should try to be friends with disciplined people. And that's so you can be encouraged by them. I remember there were days when I just felt lazy and my mind felt foggy and I lacked motivation. But I remember that I made it a point to hang out with a friend or work out later in the day. And when I told them how I felt, or just by hanging out with them, I felt better. And I was reminded by their company who I am and what I'm supposed to do. So for you, when you feel lazy, one of the things that you can do that has helped me is to connect with people who care about you so that they can give you the encouragement that you need to keep going.
Step number four, call sin out. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 11. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."
In this passage, Paul tells Christians not to have anything to do with works of darkness and to expose them. So since we just talked about going to your friends for encouragement, the next thing to add to that is to go to your friends for accountability. One of the things that I learned about sin is that if left in the darkness, it'll grow. So if you're someone that just wastes countless hours, binging shows or movies, or you're just scrolling through social media, you need to call it out. This passage here says to expose darkness. And James chapter 5 verse 16 also says to confess your trespasses or sins to other believers because by doing so, you can be healed.
So all that to say, when it comes to your sin, don't coddle it and don't treat it lightly because you need to call it out and you need to take responsibility for it. And remember what Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount, if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. Or in other words, be intentional and serious about getting rid of sin in your life. Because if you don't, your sin will grow and it will destroy you. So before it does, bring it to light so that you can get some additional help and support. And don't complicate things. It can be as simple as a quick text that says, "Hey, I'm struggling with laziness and wasting time right now. You want to read our Bible together? It would help me a lot." That's just an idea though. Do what works for you.
Step number five, make God your God. Mark chapter 12 verse 30. "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the first commandment.
In this passage, Jesus was talking to some scribes and he taught them that the most important command for people is to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. And I found that putting God first in your life is the key to overcoming any sin. So let's go back to what we talked about in step two. Remember how we mentioned tearing down altars that are dedicated to other gods. So let's break this down. Let's consider idol worship. You have a false God and an altar. The God is who people would worship and the altar is where they'd give an offering, an offering of money, supplies, or prayers. So when it comes to conquering laziness, you need to pay attention to the altar and the idol or false God. Back in step number two, we only talked about altars, but in this step of the video, I want to redirect your attention to idols. Or in other words, I want you to look within yourself and ask, what are you worshiping when you waste excessive hours? And honestly, for most people that struggle with laziness, their idol is themselves. And they go on their phone to be entertained and they satiate their lust for pleasure through some avenue.
You see, when we're lazy and we rest far more than we should and overindulge to the point where we lose control, what's happening is we become our own God and all our devices and the media that we consume are the altars that are used to supply and serve us. Honestly, when it comes to social media, I see many people whose gods are themselves because many of the things that they post are for their own personal glory. So honestly, if you're someone that truly wants to win against laziness, you need to dethrone yourself and make God your God. So should the time come? Because it happens to all of us when you're lazy and all that you want to do is serve yourself, you need to remember that Jesus died for you and that he should be the Lord of your life. For me, one thing that helps with this is going on prayer walks and it allows me to clear my head and it helps realign who I am at that moment with who God calls me to be. Oh, and pro tip, when you're lazy, being outside and in the quiet without any devices helps. Laziness is like this weird autopilot that tries to keep you smothered with unneeded rest and entertainment. So you have to find a way to break its grip.
And that leads us to step number six, learn to start small. Galatians chapter five verse 16. "I say then walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." I know I talked about this passage already, but it's important when it comes to conquering laziness. And Paul here says that when you walk in the spirit, you don't do what the lust of your flesh wants to. And when you're lazy, what your flesh wants to do is just play games or zone out on autopilot doing all these things and wasting time. And the way you combat that is by walking in the spirit. And the word that I want you to focus on is walk. You see, when it comes to walking, it's easy, or at least should be, and it's easier than sprinting or jogging. So if this verse says that when you walk in the spirit, you won't fulfill the lusts of the flesh, part of this means that you should find ways to follow God that are easy and simple for you to do.
You know, many times we choose not to read or pray because we just don't have time or feel like it. So if that's the case, you need to make your reading and prayer less difficult. And that's why I love prayer walks, because I love walking. And all I do is thank God for all the blessings in my life. And when I read, I just read until I find something that stands out. And then I write maybe three sentences about what I read and how we'll apply it in my life that day. And most of the time, I only read about 10 verses. And honestly, my time with God is enjoyable and simple. So for you, I would encourage you to find out how you can make your relationship with God a walk. Because as you do, you'll find that your flesh won't have as big of a hold on your life.
And finally, step number seven, find your calling. Ephesians chapter two, verse 10. "For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
In this passage, Paul is telling the church that they are God's workmanship or handiwork, which he created to do good things and that God prepared those good things for us to do beforehand. And in this verse is my final tool that helps with laziness. And it's me fulfilling my calling in life. For me, God has given me and my team this online ministry on YouTube. And it's one that I'm passionate about. I want our team to grow. And I'm overwhelmed by all these different projects that I'm involved with that could potentially help tons of people. So when it comes to laziness, one thing that helps me is by looking at the work God has for me and then coming alongside God to get it done. So for you, if you have faith that Jesus died for your sins, know that God has a mission for you. Because this passage says that there's good works that he planned. And these are exciting plans that will require all of you. And my prayer is that you grow to have a heart for God and to serve his people with a heart that wants to help. Okay?
So if you're someone that wants to conquer laziness, follow these seven steps. Find the root of your laziness, tear down altars in your life, make good friends, call sin out, make God your God, learn to start small, and find your calling.
To close, know that overcoming laziness is no small task. Conquering sin is difficult, whether it's lust, pride, anger, addiction, or laziness. And like all sin, it can quietly invade our life if we're not careful. So whether or not you struggle with laziness at the moment, let's all be aware of it. And let's work hard for God so that we can tell more people, Jesus loves you.
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