The Theology of Idleness: A Wake-Up Call to the Modern Youth.
By Ogiri John Ogiri
There is a quiet, spiritual erosion occurring within many of our churches today—a deliberate shaping of the youth psyche that is both disturbing and damaging. Under the guise of "end-time" preparation, a generation is being systematically tutored into professional laziness and intellectual stagnation. It is time for a radical belief system reset.
Let me be straight with you: the man or woman who tells you that Jesus is coming soon; that the world is ending but still goes ahead to build mansions, auditoria, investing in multi-billion dollar real estate, while he or she urges you to sit back to pray and fast everyday, is not being fair to you. We are often led by men and women who preach that "Jesus is coming soon" and the "world is ending," yet their actions tell a different story. While they urge you to retreat into a life of perpetual fasting and 24/7 prayer, they are busy expanding multi-billion dollar real estate portfolios, building sprawling mansions, and erecting massive auditoria.
If the world were truly ending tomorrow, why are they building for the next century?
The truth is that faith was never meant to be a substitute for industry. I am convinced that if Christ returns today, He would prefer to find you at your duty post—productive, creative, and engaged. The scripture "I must be about my Father’s business" is not a call to sit in a pews all day; it is a mandate to detach oneself from the sin of idleness.
Reset your belief system. Drop that belief and sit up. Go back to work. I am convinced that Jesus Christ will be happier if He returns and meets you working. "I must be seen doing my father's work" also includes detaching oneself from idleness. Stop listening to lazy teachings.
The "Vanity" Trap
We have all seen the scenario: an individual who has never tasted success, never held a stable job, and never known the discipline of wealth creation suddenly grabs a Bible to preach that "all is vanity."
How can we take such a perspective seriously? To call life "vanity" when you have never experienced its possibilities - when you have never been anywhere close to a good life (no wealth, no good job, no guarantee of quality diet, not a house, not an automobile, not anything that points to luxury) is not a spiritual realization; it is a coping mechanism for failure.
The last time I read my Bible, the man who made that statement was not a poor man; he was the richest man in his time. The man who famously penned "Vanity upon vanity" was not a pauper. King Solomon was the wealthiest and most accomplished man of his era. He earned the right to call it vanity because he had climbed to the summit and seen the view. Perspective requires experience.
A Mandate for the Youth.
Dear Youth, do not let "lazy teachings" limit your potential. Your ability to create, to earn, and to build is a God-given gift that should not be buried under a cloak of false piety.
Go Back to Work: Realize that productivity is a form of worship.
Acquire Legally: Build wealth with integrity and excellence.
Achieve First, Conclude Later: Make your mark on the world, build your legacy, and then—from a position of strength—tell us whether or not life is vanity.
Stop believing in a version of faith that requires you to stay small. Reset your mind. Sit up. The world—and your Creator—is waiting for you to get to work.
Stop believing things that only limit your ability to realize your full potential.
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