Text: Ephesians 5:15-17
Memory verse:
“There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” Proverbs 22:13

Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Yes, many hate to hear about work. Such people consider opportunity as a chance to enjoy what they didn’t earn; to receive manna from heaven! They shut the door against opportunities simply because they come with work. Their desires are like the beggar’s wishes, which will always remain in the dream world. Proverbs 13:4 says, “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” The lazy man spends his whole time dreaming of what he wants to do or what he can do, but he never does anything. He is always full of excuses and excuses himself out of lifetime opportunities.“Don’t be so lazy that you say, “If I go to work, a lion will eat me!” (Prov 22:13 CEV).
In the eleventh hour story, you see the disposition of God towards idleness or laziness. “No one hired us,’ they answered. ‘Well, then, you go and work in the vineyard,’ he told them. “ (Matt 20:7 GNT). This vineyard owner hated idleness so much that he didn’t even sympathize with this idle man for not being engaged by anyone, nor did he wait to negotiate his pay with him. He wanted him to just find something doing first.
I have seen many young people who turned down job offers or business offers because of the work involved. They choose to go for jobs or businesses that give room for idleness. In so doing, many have missed great opportunities. Many apprentices and trainees have pulled out of their training because they considered the training too demanding.
During the early years of my ministerial training, I had a boss who was tough on us. He demanded so much from us and some with slim deadlines. Many times, while we were at a major service and few minutes to the sermon time, he would just point to me to go up and deliver the sermon without any prior notice. I thought he was being unfair to me and only wanted to embarrass me. However, that helped me to always study deeply and be prepared to avoid such embarrassing situations. Little did I know that God was just training me for a greater responsibility. It was an opportunity that came like work. That became the foundation of the things that I know today.
Friends, don’t let laziness cause you to neglect potential opportunities for growth and development. Don’t turn down opportunities because they come with work, rather take advantage of the chances. May you not miss your God-sent opportunities in Jesus’ name.

Prayer points
1. Father, please help me to embrace hard work and never to neglect opportunities for growth and development in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please, deliver me from the tendency to be lazy in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I will not flee from work because I know opportunities sometimes come like work.
2. I will not excuse myself from work lest I miss the opportunities for growth and development.

.