I woke up today around 7:00 a.m., and, too lazy to get out of bed, fell back asleep. I woke up every forty-five minutes to an hour, only to fall back asleep again. Finally, five hours later, I sat up in bed, grabbed my cell phone, and start playing games. Time passed, I kept playing. Unaware of how much time I was wasting, I finished my game, checked the time, and my face flushed red with anger. Three hours had passed.
Just sitting here, realizing how blessed I am, counting all of the gifts God has given me. Just sitting here, enjoying the comfort and security of all the materialistic things I own. Not lacking family, not lacking God, but simply lacking the spiritual diligence to get out of bed in the morning, praise God like I should, and spend time in His word.
Satan is good at twisting things just enough to get me to be complacent, to get me to settle, to get me to stay right where I am. Just forty-five more minutes of sleep, even though I'm not that tired. Just a few games of poker, even though I'm not getting anything out of it. Eight hours later, I've spent no time praying, reading, or praising God. And then, once I've realized what I've done, I get angry. Too angry to sit down and shut up, listen to God, read His word, and give Him praises. I'm angry, so I just don't feel like it. I'd rather mull over time lost, than spend the rest of my time actively pursuing God. Satan is conniving, and, rather than getting me to focus on him, he'd rather get me so distracted with myself and my life that I forget to spend time with God.
Minuscule things that we may see as simple ways of passing the time can be complex spiritual distractions that ultimately distance us from God. To avoid this, it is important that we evaluate how we spend our time. There are many Proverbs that touch on the topic of lethargy - all ending in a wasted life of which nothing good comes. Are we disciplined in our lives? Do we actively pursue God every minute of every day? Are we letting a day in the life become a day in the spiritual strife that follows spiritual laziness? We MUST examine ourselves.
"He who gathers in summer is a wise son, But he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame."
- Proverbs 10:5
