Idleness and Slothfullness

I've been feeling really tired lately.  Tired and lazy.  Or maybe lazy because of tired?  Unknown.  In any case, I've been feeling like I need some motivation in my life, so my study question of the week was how do I work hard through tiredness?  How do I gain motivation to not be lazy?

I started by looking up idleness in the topical guide.  Here are a few scriptures I found that way:

Alma 1:32  For those who did not belong to their church did indulge themselves in.....  ^cidleness

         The footnote for idleness says laziness.  So we learn here that idleness is the antithesis of church membership?  Well, one of many- there is a bit of a list here that I left out.

Alma 24:20  [converted Lamanites covenant that] .... rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.

        So it was a covenant with God for them.  Is it with us too?  I believe so in the temple at least.  In baptism too?  I'm not sure.  Anyway our promise with god should be good motivation.  And in this same verse the Anti-Nephi-Lehis say they'd bury their weapons of war, which isn't exactly a covenant for us.  Does that mean hard work is something above and beyond our covenants?  I don't think so.  I think hard work is a way to show God our devotion.

Alma 22:28  the more ^aidle part of the Lamanites lived in the wilderness, and dwelt in tents

         In the scriptures many times a lack of idleness has a direct correlation to prosperity.  If you keep the commandments ye will prosper in the land.  Working hard is a commandment.

D & C 75: 29  the ^bidler shall not have place in the church

        Again a lack of idleness is linked to church membership.  So far in my study I'm getting that idleness is linked to inactivity in the church and failing to prosper in the land.  (and D & C seems particularly full of council to not be idle.  Joseph Smith maybe knew of modern day conveniences to come).  I'll be honest, so far my study has not provided me with great motivation in my daily struggles with laziness.  Next, I'll look up slothfullness in the topical guide.

Matt 25: 26   Thou wicked and slothful servant

        Christ is speaking here to the servant He gave one talent to and he buried it in the parable of the talents.  We should not be slothful in the development of our talents- must work hard to gain more.

Hebrews 6: 10  For God [does not] forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewd toward his name in that ye have ministered to the Saints and do minister.

         This is just here documented because I felt the Spirit as I read this verse.  Maybe not doing oh so bad.

Hebrews 6:12   .... be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise.

       I think this verse helped me more than any other I studied this week.  Combat slothfulness with FAITH and PATIENCE.  I never made this link before, but it does take faith- that I can do it and that it will be worht it.  And it takes persistent patience in well doing that even when we don't see results of hard work- we keep going.  Faith and patience.  I've tried to remember this when I want to waste time on the computer and don't see a reason not too- it first takes faith that it will be worth it not to- that that is what God would have me do.  And faith that I will be blessed for doing so.  Then, also patience with myself when I don't want to do it or when I fail.  Faith and patience.

Alma 37: 41   .... because those miracles were worked by ^asmall means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were ^bslothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

     We must always remember by small things are great things brought to pass.  We cannot be slothful with our faith in this or we will not progress.  Faith AND diligence.  

Alma 33: 21   O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in ^aunbelief, and be ^bslothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

        Replace "casting about your eyes" with "being productive."  Would ye not do it quickly to be healed?  Now, replace "healed" with "accomplish your goals."  Would ye not do it quickly?  Again, it's the small stuff- merely doing the small productive things will heal us.

Faith, patience, diligence.  Do the small things.


 

Judging

My study question last week was how do I stop judging others?  This one is kind of linked to last week's topic- loving and liking.  I know it's wrong to judge, but I know that I do it, so how do I stop?  How do I prevent those negative thoughts from entering in and festering?

I started my search with the notion from 3 Nephi 14:1 "Judge not that ye be not judged."  It's pretty good advice since I know I have many faults.  Verses 2-6 of the same chapter go on to say that you will be judged with the same standards you judge others with.  Why do you focus on the mote in your brother's eye and ignore the beam in your own?  I should deal with that beam first definitely.

This was good to know and remember, but it didn't really tell me how I should do it.  For me my answer came clearly and strongly in Moroni chapter 7.  The whole chapter.  I felt like it was written just for me, just for this problem.  I've read it many times but never in the light of how to not judge others.  It was very enlightening. 

Moroni 7: 16 I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

          I replaced "every thing" with everyone.  So, everyone which inviteth to do good ... is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ and ye may know it is of God.  The vast majority of people I know are good, and they invite to do good, so I know they are of God.  Most people are trying to do good, not trying to hurt, we can't focus on their shortcomings- they are still good and of God. 

Verse 18:  And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the ^alight by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same ^bjudgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.

     I do not wish to be judged based on my faults instead of my strengths, ergo I need to judge others emphasizing their strengths not their faults.  I do not seem like such a good person when my faults are the only things looked at.  Always judge by the light of Christ.

Verse 19:  Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the ^alight of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a ^bchild of Christ.

      Lay hold upon every good thing means to focus on people's good points- every one of them- every good thing.  Grasp onto their good points.  Condemn it not means do not condemn their faults.  And then ye will certainly be a child of Christ.

Verse 20 asks how:  ".... and now how is it possible that ye can lay hold of every good thing?"  And verse 21 holds the answer:  "...And now I come to that faith ... and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing."  The answer is FAITH.

Verse 25  Wherefore, by the ministering of ^aangels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing...."

          So it is by faith.  And it is by the ministering of angels and God's word we begin to exercise or gain faith.  Scriptures/prayer.  Knew they'd play a role.  It goes on to say that by these things MIRACLES are brought to pass.  Even the miracle of not judging someone who is difficult not to judge- this can be a miracle and can happen based on my faith.

Verse 26:  ....^cWhatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.

     Bam.  Prayer + faith and God will help us out.

Verse 27:  ....he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will ^acleave unto every good thing.....

         So if we have faith, we WILL be able to cleave unto people's good attributes.  Faith in His power, not in your own is all it takes.

Verse 33:  And Christ hath said: ^aIf ye will have ^bfaith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is ^cexpedient in me.

     I'm sure Christ wants me not to judge so if I have faith, He will grant me power to accomplish it.

Verse 37:   it is by faith that ^amiracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of ^bunbelief, and all is vain.

     Again, faith can bring miracles and ministering of angels- that's how God can help me and if He doesn't it is because of my unbelief or lack of faith.

Verse 39:  But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not ^afit to be numbered among the people of his church.

       Moroni thinks I do have faith :)

Verse 40:  ....How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?

       Good question.  So in order to attain faith- I first need hope.

Verse 41:  And what is it that ye shall ^ahope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have ^bhope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life ^ceternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

      Pretty clear.  What should we hope for?  The atonement.

Verse 44:  3 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be ^ameek, and lowly of heart.

 44 If so, his ^afaith and hope is vain, for none is ^bacceptable before God, save the ^cmeek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and ^dconfesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

     Ok, a few more qualifying statements here.  First we have to be meek and lowly of heart to have faith and hope and the clincher:  we must have CHARITY!  For, without charity, we are nothing.

Verse 45:  Charity suffereth long and is kind.

        This verse goes on to explain a host of other attributes of charity.  But this right here was enough for me- charity suffereth long AND is kind.  It's hard- we suffer.  We suffer for a long time, BUT we're also kind.  Kindness through the suffering.  It was reassuring to me that it says here that charity isn't easy- it suffereth long in fact, but it's possible to be kind through the suffering long.  And if we can do that, we're promised everything.  And most importantly- charity.

Verse 46:  ....Charity never faileth.... cleave unto charity..... for all things must fail, but charity never faileth.

      Nothing else will work- everything else will faith- cleave unto charity- it will work every time.

Verse 47:  Charity endureth forever.

      It works every time forever.

Verse 48:  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.

         Love this.  Pray with all the energy of heart to be filled with this love.  Here is the answer- pray.  But not just pray- pray will all the energy of your heart to be filled with charity for people- for specific people.  It will work.  Faith, hope charity.  Obtain it through prayer, belief and hope that the prayer for charity will work- suffer long and be kind.  Pray.