Idleness

June 1

2 Samuel 10-11

Psalm 68:7-14

Proverbs 14:33-35

Acts 1

Idleness

“In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officials and all Israel…. One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing---a very beautiful woman. So, David sent someone to inquire about her, and he reported, ‘This is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite.’” 2 Samuel 11:1-3 HSCB

In the spring when kings went out to war, David stayed home and sent Joab. David was a man after God’s own heart. Over the last couple of weeks, we have looked at David’s life and examined his heart. He was humble, faithful, and he loved God, yet today’s reading is evidence that even the most faithful are capable of succumbing to temptation. For whatever reason, David decided that this spring he was not going to go out to war with his men and he found himself wandering around his castle with nothing to do. “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop” is a phrase I have heard my whole life. While the phrase is not in the Bible, it is certainly a principle that can be traced back to biblical truth. 2 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Timothy 5:13, and Proverbs 16:27 are just a few verses that talk about the dangers of idleness.

Idleness is not the same as rest. We are told in scripture that God gives rest to His children. Our bodies need periods of rest and relaxation. Idleness is laziness or doing nothing when you should be doing something. It is often a result of having no purpose or goals. God designed us to be productive. We were meant to work and contribute to society. If we have nothing to do, Satan stalks around eager to come up with things to occupy our time. When we have no purpose and responsibility, we are much more likely to be tempted to do something sinful. And that is exactly what happened to David. When he should have been out with his men, he was walking around on his roof, and he succumbed to temptation. This led him down paths he never would have dreamed he would take. Adultery, lying, cover-up and murder are things you expect to read in a mystery novel not in the Bible about someone God called, “a man after My own heart.” This is a stark reminder to us that no one is immune to sin. We are all capable of giving in to temptation. 2020 was a difficult year because we were forced to stay home, not go to work, and spend long periods of time alone. Things are starting to open again, but this is a good reminder that even if we are stuck at home, we don’t have to be idle. Don’t allow Satan to creep in. Take up a new hobby, start a new workout routine, spend more time with God, make a meal for a sick friend, or call an elderly relative who is lonely. Ask God to show you how you can serve others. Don’t spend hours watching TV or on social media. Serving others is good mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually for you, not to mention the benefit to those you help. Let us not allow ourselves to fall into the trap of idleness.