The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh." Ecclesiastes 4:5
On first read of this scripture, it may seem very different from this topic. But think about it: if you become complacent with your relationship in Christ, or even as simple as your work environment, you will not progress. You have a few options at this point: you fall into a slump where it seems like there is no run for you to grow. You begin to complain and find wrong with everything there; then you start finding fault in anything someone says to you. Or if you're the bright, inquisitive, adaptive person you look for ways to make it better, i.e., you read your Bible more, you go to church more frequently or get involved, or at work, you sign up for trainings, volunteer for new opportunities that may arise.
I take the above scripture to mean that if you get comfortable—slacking off, being lazy or idle, or simply not wanting to challenge yourself to grow—you cause yourself ruin. Read this translation of this verse: "Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin." (NLT) I say don't simply go thru the motions because you never reach your full potential. You essentially allow yourself to begin to decay—we lose what we don't use folks! We were not created to simply blend in with the crowd, but to aspire to become more like Christ, to become better with each passing day. (Eph 4:15) Fools resist change and allow complacency to take over because of fear. Many people fear the unknown, so rather than take a risk and learn something, they would rather resist the change—here we go, causing themselves ruin.
I extend this mainly to those of us in a relationship with God. You cannot ride on the knowledge someone 'gives' you, because you will not give yourself the opportunity to grow. You must read and study the word for yourself, you must attend church for yourself, and you must experience God for yourself. Do not settle on a mediocre knowledge of God—because that IS NOT a relationship with God.
Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house." Ecclesiastes 10:18 (NLT)
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