July 18
The Price of
Laziness
"Hands that work hard will rule. But people who don’t want to work will be forced to be slaves."
Proverbs 12:24, NIrV
Leilani had a good job. As a warehouse supervisor, she had a solid paycheck, benefits, and a team of workers under her. But over time, she had grown lazy.
She knew how to make it look like she was working—walking the floor, checking in on her team, sending the occasional email. But most of her day was spent chatting with her best friend in the break room, scrolling through her phone, or slipping outside for a cigarette. Meanwhile, her team worked hard, lifting heavy boxes, rushing to meet quotas, and staying late for overtime.
“Come on, guys,” she would say, clapping her hands. “We have a deadline! Let’s pick up the pace.”
Her workers would exchange frustrated glances but say nothing. They needed their jobs.
For months, Leilani got away with it. She convinced herself it didn’t matter—she had done her time, worked hard when she first started. Now she could take it easy. Besides, no one was watching too closely.
Or so she thought.
One afternoon, her manager called her into the office. The expression on his face made her stomach sink.
“Leilani, we’ve been reviewing security footage and time logs,” he began. “We’ve also had multiple complaints from your team. It’s clear you’ve been neglecting your responsibilities while expecting them to pick up the slack.”
Leilani opened her mouth to defend herself, but the truth was right there on the screen—videos of her laughing in the break room, standing outside on her phone, wasting time while her team worked non-stop.
“I’m sorry, Leilani,” the manager continued. “We have to let you go.”
She left the office in shock. As she cleared out her locker, she felt a lump rise in her throat. What had she done? She had taken her job for granted, and now she had nothing.
That evening, as she sat on her couch staring at the walls, she picked up her old Bible from a dusty shelf. She hadn’t opened it in years, but something inside told her she needed to. Flipping through the pages, she landed on Proverbs 12:24.
Her heart sank. The verse spoke directly to her. She had been lazy, and now she was paying the price.
For the first time in a long time, she whispered, “God, I messed up. Help me do better.”
She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew one thing—next time, she would work with integrity.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Forgive me for the times I have been lazy or taken my responsibilities for granted.
Help me to work with honesty, diligence, and a heart that honors You.
Teach me to lead by example and to treat others with fairness and respect.
When I am tempted to cut corners, remind me that You see all things and that my work should be done as if working for You.
Thank You for second chances and the lessons You teach me.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
