A theme throughout the wisdom literature is the deleterious effects of neglect or passivity, where the sluggard is both the perpetrator and recipient of ruin.

The media portrays Israel as a war-torn, savage country. Actually Israel is a world class scene, having a better GNP than any country in the Western world.

Without well-defined plans, projects become quickly derailed. Both time and energy are wasted in the absence of carefully established goals.

Poverty and destruction are the products of neglect. Preventative maintenance will help us whether we deal with physical or spiritual problems.

Terrorism is commonplace today, yet we may be causing just as much destruction spiritually as the average terrorist through negligence and passivity.

The Parable of the Talents is often confused with the Parable of the Pounds. These parables illustrate Christian responsibilities from different angles.

After we are baptized and become members of God's church, we inherit a new primary job and responsibility: to become a steward.

Biblically, a talent has nothing to do with ability, skill, or aptitude. The Parable of the Talents goes far beyond making use of skills and abilities.

The three principles for acquiring prosperity (diligently working, wisely managing what one has earned, and meticulously saving) all militate against laziness.

God expects a return on the investment He has placed in us. Doing nothing with our abilities is a grievous abuse of this trust.

People entering retirement often experience degrees of depression brought about by deteriorating health status and the feeling of no longer being needed.

While working for the government may provide a feeling of security, it can also breed complacency and laziness, inspiring a wholesale lack of motivation.

We must weed out detrimental habits that choke our lives. If we want to produce quality fruit, we must weed our garden.

We need to exercise diligence, acquiring economic stability by submitting to God's counsel, sacrificing now before forces usurp our economic substance.

We are obligated to be conscientious and diligent in whatever work is placed before us, guided by our conscience and influenced by God's Spirit.

Some scriptures seem to say that all one needs to do is ask God in prayer for whatever the heart desires, and He will grant it like a genie rubbed from his lamp.

The Bible does not condone a government-supplied welfare system, insisting rather that people who refuse to work shall not eat (II Thessalonians 3:10-15).

The Parable of the Talents teaches the need for diligence in using the gifts of God. God expects us to use our talents to His glory and in the service of others.

Self-control helps us to restrain ourselves from harmful lusts of the flesh, including gluttony, intoxication, sex outside of marriage, and drug abuse.

The recipients of Peter's epistle were having difficulty holding on to their faith, having succumbed to fear as a result of lack of discipline and laziness.

An irrational fear of loss prevents the development of agape love — we fear that keeping God's commandments will cause us to lose something valuable.

Solomon emphasized in Ecclesiastes 2 that we should enjoy and derive pleasure from our work. The way that we work is a visible witness of God before men.

Obedience to God's instructions brings a Christian excellent benefits, and one of the greatest of these is working with God to grow in righteous character.

Solomon provides these comparisons to indicate the choices we should make to live better lives in alignment with God, even in an 'nder the sun' world.

We have a responsibility to analyze our health needs, continually adjusting and changing as we learn, faithfully maintaining the temple of God's Spirit.

Both food and information are readily available in the West. What is our approach to them? Our attitude toward and application of them makes all the difference.

Although men have no moral or mental advantages over women, God has commissioned them to actively lead, providing security and stability to family and society.

The noble trait of self-sufficiency, long associated with the American spirit, has sadly been eclipsed by a spoiled brat, whiney, 'gimme' welfare mentality.

We have the obligation to bear spiritual fruit, heeding the lessons of the cursing of the fig tree, and the parables of the barren fig tree and the talents.

Many of God's servants, including Elijah and Jeremiah, had their crises of faith, desiring to flee from their responsibilities and commitments.

Not all waiting is actually waiting on God. We might convince ourselves that we are waiting on God, when He is really waiting for us to move forward.

The modern church stands in danger of allowing salvation to slip away. Hebrews gives warnings to help us turn our lives around so we do not fall short.

In answer to the question, 'How can a mere human being fulfill the difficult expectations of God?', Jesus instructs us to 'Ask, seek, and knock.'

Most of us have been brave on occasion, but perhaps other times we have been timid. What can we do to avoid being a coward when it matters most?

Fearing God leads to a determination not to bring shame on God's name or offending and hurting the relationship between God and us.