A student grabbed a coin, flipped it, and while it was in mid-air, said, ‘Heads, I’m going to the cinema. Tails, it’s a DVD night. And if it lands on its edge, I’m going to study.’ This student has a few things in common with Proverbs’ sluggard. So, let’s see what we can learn from them. The sluggard doesn’t do today what he can put off until tomorrow, and he never does tomorrow what he can put off forever. So God asks him, ‘How long will you lie there, you sluggard?’ You might be talking to a sluggard if you’re always asking a capable, otherwise-sensible person, ‘What is it you actually do with your life?’ or, ‘How long are you going to lie there?’ ‘How long are you going to lie there?’ sounds snarky, but it’s actually a useful question. Getting the job started is as important as ultimately getting it done. You find that once you’ve started, it’s easier to keep going. The sluggard’s always going to get around to doing the job, but never gets around to getting around. So, what’s the hook that’ll get you into the task? Reminding yourself of your goal, of what you’ll be able to achieve when it’s done? Whatever it is, find it, and you’ll be on your way. It’s pretty important to get this sorted, because, as one leader said, ‘When you do what you have to do, when you have to do it, then you get to do what you want to do, when you want to do it.’

What now?

Do you have a task that always takes you forever to get started? Find the hook that will get you into the task. Maybe it’s putting on some headphones, or taking a cup of tea, or reminding yourself that you’re ultimately working for God.