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.