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Busy but Disobedient: The Hidden Cost of Spiritual Laziness

By: Elizabeth Louis

Laziness isn’t always obvious. It doesn’t always wear pajamas or scroll social media. Sometimes, it hides behind a color-coded calendar, a detailed plan, a clean kitchen—and a heart that is resisting God.

This message isn’t for the laid-back. It’s for the women who are always moving but never obeying. It’s for the men who lead at work but disappear at home. It’s for the Christians who confuse exhaustion with faithfulness, and avoidance with discernment.

Biblically, laziness is not about rest. It’s about resisting what God has commanded.

It’s when you keep folding laundry while ignoring the conviction to deal with sin. It’s watching another sermon instead of obeying the last one.

It’s when you stay busy with lesser tasks to avoid the one thing God clearly asked you to do. It’s watching more content while ignoring conviction. It’s accumulating spiritual information while resisting personal transformation.

This is not about guilt. It’s about clarity and repentance. Because you cannot overcome sin if you won’t confront it.

Why does this matter? Why bother confronting laziness or sin at all? Because the longer you tolerate it, the more it costs you. Not just spiritually—but mentally, relationally, emotionally. You lose time. You lose peace. You lose authority.

You can’t lead others if you’re ruled by patterns you refuse to master. You can’t leave a legacy while living in resistance.

If you want real clarity, power, and peace—you cannot skip obedience. Let’s go to Proverbs 24.

“I passed by the field of a slacker, by the vineyard of one lacking sense. Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was ruined. I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need, like a bandit.”

The lazy man isn’t in the story. But his field speaks for him.

His neglect has become his testimony. The weeds tell the truth.

Laziness is a spiritual disorder, not a time issue

Verse 30 says he “lacked sense.” This does not mean low intelligence. It means he lacked a heart submitted to God. He lacked the internal surrender necessary for obedience.

Deuteronomy 5:29 says, “Oh, that they had such a heart in them to fear Me and keep all My commands always.”

To lack heart in the Bible means a person cannot obey God. That is not a personality type. That is a spiritual condition.

Women: Your obsession with tasks may be pride. Cleaning your house while ignoring God’s voice is not diligence. It is rebellion.

Men: Providing financially while neglecting your role as a godly husband or father is not biblical manhood. It is abdication.

We don’t need better routines. We need to submit to the Holy Spirit.

Laziness shows in what you ignore, not what you share online

The field didn’t decay in a day. It was neglected repeatedly.

Weeds grow in areas we refuse to take responsibility for.

Romans 12:2: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Many of you have allowed destructive thoughts to remain because you would rather manage dysfunction than surrender to transformation.

This is not confusion. This is resistance.

Neglect will always produce consequences.

Busyness can be spiritual laziness in disguise

High-capacity Christians can still disobey. Activity does not equal obedience.

Proverbs 12:27: “The lazy do not roast their game.”

They started something—but never finished it. They gathered, but didn’t complete the work.

Some of you are overwhelmed because you are managing things you were supposed to complete weeks ago.

You feel overwhelmed, but it’s not spiritual warfare—it’s unfinished assignments piling up.

Procrastination is not a personality issue. It is disobedience.

Proverbs 12:11: “The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.”

Procrastination says there will be a better time. A better moment. An easier path.

But the Holy Spirit said move. If you delay, you are not being strategic—you are resisting God.

This is not about feeling overwhelmed. This is about allowing excuses to rule over obedience.

Excuses are a tool of the flesh

Proverbs 26:13: “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”

Fear-driven delay is not spiritual wisdom. It is compromise.

Some of you say you are “waiting on God,” but God is waiting on you. You are not in a season of waiting. You are in a pattern of avoiding.

And the devil doesn’t even need to fight you. Your avoidance is doing the job.

Excellence is a result of the Spirit, not talent or personality

Daniel 6:3: “Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit.”

Daniel didn’t pursue perfection. He pursued God.

Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord.”

If you would be embarrassed to present your work to Jesus, then it is not excellence.

Partial obedience is still disobedience.

What have you left unfinished?

What has God assigned you that you have delayed? What lie have you made room for because confronting it felt inconvenient? What habit have you excused?

Jesus did not die so you could manage your life. He died so you could walk in freedom and finish your assignment.

John 17:4: “I glorified You on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.”

Get out of the cycle

If you’re tired of delay, distraction, and defeat, Renew Your Mind: Break Free from Toxic Thinking the Jesus Way was built for you.

This is not another mindset program. This is a call to break strongholds and finally move forward in Spirit-led obedience.

If you’re spiritually exhausted but still stuck, it’s not because you’re weak. It’s because you’ve been at war in the wrong direction. This course trains you to fight with truth.

You don’t need more time. You need to renew your mind.

Let Jesus be Lord in the places you’ve avoided.

Closing Prayer

Lord, forgive us for every moment we delayed when You spoke clearly. Forgive us for pretending fear was wisdom. Forgive us for our comfort-driven Christianity.

Convict us. Strengthen us. Teach us to obey quickly and joyfully.

Let us finish what You assigned. Let our work bring You glory. Let our minds be fully renewed.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Want to renew your mind like a true Kingdom Champion?
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