Slothfulness
just five more minutes…
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How long, you sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax, and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man.
Proverbs 6:9-11 (NET)
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Back when I was playing little league baseball, there was a word that almost all the coaches yelled at us:
Hustle!
Now, they didn’t yell this in anger or disappointment. They were trying to teach us this critical character trait so we could play well (and hopefully win).
At some point, you can’t keep yelling it out. The person either decides to have hustle or they don’t.
Good news is that you can always decide to become a person who hustles.
But I don’t think it can be taught, only accepted & internalized.
When I read these verses, I feel like the writer is doing the same thing as my old coaches. Sharing an inspiring speech with the team and then reminding us throughout the game of life that we need to be people who hustle.
Why?
Because it’s easy to drift, to find yourself on a pathway to mediocrity.
But moving toward success (in life and with God) requires constant intention & work.
Every day we’ve got to check in, spend time with Jesus, see what He has on His mind, find out where we can fit in that plan, then go out and work.
In other words, spiritually hustle.
I suppose you could take these verses more literally and talk about the importance of working when it’s time to work and resting when it’s time to rest. But I wanted to go a little deeper.
So, as you go out today, I’ve got one thing to say:
“Let’s see some hustle!”
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.