Proverbs 31:27

She looketh well to the ways of her household,

and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Groan . .  . the Proverbs 31 woman.  Did any woman ever achieve what Solomon so glowingly describes as the “virtuous woman?”  It is important at the outset – to fully recognize that Proverbs 31 describes the entirety of all the phases of a woman’s life.  The young children at home phase, is different than the older lady volunteer stage.  Proverbs 31 covers all, and I mean ALL stages of a woman’s life, and should not intimidate you, nor prevent you from striving to become a Proverbs 31 woman.  A little at a time!

The particular focus of this article, really affects me personally.  Most people who don’t know me very well, would scoff at the notion that I could ever be idle.  Here is my confession.  I like to be idle.  Far too frequently, as a matter of fact.  When I sense that people are trying to pressure me into doing something (usually perform) that I don’t really want to do, my sinful sense of self preservation looms up, and tells me to withhold, and not do anything. 

Here are all the lyrics to my theme song, written by the genius, Irving Berlin:

[1st verse:]
Every time
I see a puppy upon a summer’s day
A puppy dog at play
My heart is filled with envy
That’s because
My heart is yearning to pass the time away
Like that pup
‘Cause I’m all fed up
And tho’ it’s wrong to be
I long to be

[chorus:]
Lazy
I want to be lazy
I want to be out in the sun
With no work to be done
Under that awning
They call the sky
Stretching and yawning
And let the world go drifting by
I want to peep
Through the deep
Tangled wildwood
Counting sheep
‘Til I sleep
Like a child would
With a great big valise full
Of books to read where it’s peaceful
While I’m
Killing time
Being lazy

[2nd verse:]
Life is short
And getting shorter with each day that goes by
And how the time does fly
Before you know, it’s over
That’s why I’m
In such a hurry to pack my things and fly
To a spot
Where it’s nice and hot
And hear the birdies sing
While I’m being lazy.

Yes, that’s me.  I would rather read all day, then engage with people.  When my children were young, I used to lock them out, and take a long hot bath every night, and read.

Is there any hope for idlers like me?  Like you?  Yes, there is. 

1. Get and use a planner.  So what if it’s not the beginning of the year.  Start one anyway.  Having things written down, helps you keep track of where you are wasting time.  Write everything in there.  Bonus – planners for this year are still available – and are greatly reduced in price now!
2. Use a timer!  Mine is on my phone, if your phone doesn’t have one, get a small digital one and keep it on you.  Time how long you do your particular idling – like for me – limit daily reading to 1 1/2 hours.  If yours is TV, do the same thing.  When the timer beeps – turn it off, close the book, shut down your computer – whatever is stealing your time – obey the timer!
3. Every time you  hear yourself say – I deserve this – make an attempt to check mate that thought process, and substitute – is this pleasing to the Lord?  Trust me – you will get the answer to that question.

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It came as a cold, hard, fact to me, that my idleness, was in reality – escapism.  Escape from all kinds of things.  Things that annoy, frustrate, irritate, and bring on feelings of impatience.  ESCAPE!!  That’s what TV, internet, books, or any activity we substitute for what we should be doing really is.  Escapism.   That’s not to suggest that you don’t need rest and relaxation.  I’m sure there’s enough of you reading this post who understand what I’m talking about.  Idleness is deliberately choosing to do other than what is needed.

Sometimes, a great many people need my help.  And, often, I just don’t want to.  No fancy analysis needed.  I’m idle.  I like to do,  what I like to do, when I like to do it.  This is not the service life – it is the selfish life.

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There is hope for idlers, the same hope there is for everyone.  The closer we walk to the Lord, the more we will become like Him, and we will feel less and less like escaping from everything.  Truly, He can cure every ill, even our self created ones.

My very favorite Bible Verse:

Proverbs 3:5-6

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

sage