Idleness

[Jullianna]

How often do we see people who have far to much time on their hands not spending it in productive ways, so they become self-absorbed and, eventually, depressed? Please don't misunderstand me. I know that there are clinical/medical reasons for TRUE depression, but it seems to me that "depression" has become an epidemic and I'm wondering whether there is a "me first" mentality connection in many instances.

So, these are my questions:

Is idleness healthy?

Do you think there's a connection between idleness and pity parties and/or other forms of negativity and "depression"?

Are we called to be self-absorbed?

What can we as singles be doing with our "spare" time to contribute in godly ways?

 

[Liamson]

I think Idleness leads to a lowered sense of self worth. Not seeing people and not doing things to make a person feel wanted or valuable seems like a recipe for depression.

 

[perdonato]

The Bible speaks out against idleness and laziness. I think that's a clear indicator that they can't be healthy....

I agree with Liamson that it can lead to a lowered sense of self worth - while being idle we are not giving anybody an fair opportunity to reach into our lives. And those people can potentially encourage and build up self worth.

In my "spare time"...well...wait....... I don't really have any right now. I opted to fill it with:
a) living in a community house where there is hardly ever a moment alone (can I just rejoice in the fact this is one of those few times where I'm sitting on the couch in the house alone and it happens so little that I'm SO thankful for it!!)
b) take night classes at seminary
c) go to church and intentionally seek out relationships with people from church outside of church and
d) the most recent addition: serving the homeless. We are called to serve. To seek and save the lost. The feed the hungry. To care about people.. too often are we caught up in our own worlds and forget that God commands us to serve. See a need, fill a need. Everyone has needs... and we all have the ability to fill at least one category of those needs (wether it's serving the homeless, visiting the senior citizens homes where people are hungry for companionship, or even just baking cookies and building relationships with the people around us).

I think you're right, Jullianna - depression has become an epidemic and these are fantastic questions to consider.

 

[HhhLGA89]

I think idleness can often times be linked to loneliness so you have to make sure you are differentiating between the two and that might be a little tough.

 

[Relena7]

Some people become idle out of fear of doing the wrong thing, or getting too absorbed in the wrong thing, or wasting energy caring about the wrong thing, etc. Fear of rejection is a strong one too. It all boils down to fear of something. Fear can put you in a cage from doing things you love, as well as doing things for those people you love. I believe there is always a way out though. =)

 

[Oncefallen]

I would definitely agree that excessive idleness does contribute to depression, lack of self worth, etc. However, I also believe that excessive busyness can be equally emotionally and spiritually devastating over the long term. Some of us can tend to use excessive busyness as an excuse to not develop meaningful relationships, or develop our self worth from our value to an employer instead of our value to God, family, and friends. There is definitely a balance to be found between the two.

 

[Pheonix]

Here's an idea. How about we define Idleness before we talk about anything else. And how about those who have no family or friends anywhere nearby and have no money to spend on "volunteering" for things. Folks talk about volunteering as if time is the only thing you give. the truth is it often takes a lot of money as well. Essentially you end up paying to work at a second part time job.

 

[Jullianna]

My apologies, Sir. Here ya go. Since it has multiple meanings, I have highlighted the portions I'm referring to in my initial post:

i·dle(

d

l)
adj. i·dler, i·dlest 1. a. Not employed or busy: idle carpenters. See Synonyms at inactive.
b. Avoiding work or employment; lazy: shiftless, idle youth. See Synonyms at lazy.
c. Not in use or operation: idle hands.

2. Lacking substance, value, or basis. See Synonyms at baseless, vain.

v. i·dled, i·dling, i·dles
v.intr. 1. To pass time without working or while avoiding work.
2. To move lazily and without purpose.
3. To run at a slow speed or out of gear. Used of a motor vehicle.

v.tr. 1. To pass (time) without working or while avoiding work; waste: idle the afternoon away.
2. To make or cause to be unemployed or inactive.
3. To cause (a motor, for example) to idle.

n. 1. A state of idling. Used of a motor vehicle: an engine running quietly at idle.
2. A mechanism for regulating the speed at which an engine runs at rest: set the idle higher to keep the motor from stalling.

**********************************************************

JUST TO BE CLEAR, our country's economic situation has put a lot of people out of work through no fault of their own. This isn't what I'm talking about and I'm pretty certain it's not the sort of idleness the scriptures warn against either. I'm talking about having hours of unproductive time, day after day after day.

I don't think we can use the cost of transportation as an excuse to be unproductive. People don't have neighbors who need help? Elderly neighbors who could use some help with house/yard work or just someone to talk with? A single dad who could use a helping hand? A single mom who needs help maintaining her home/yard? Shoveling snow? Or, if manual labor is an issue, what about praying and encouraging people? Even time spent online can be productive. There are tons of people in CC who could use a kind word, an email of encouragement or a note to let them know that someone cares and is praying for them. Where is the expense in that if we are going to be online anyway? And when our church has a major cleaning or maintenance project going on, there are usually plenty of people who are willing to give others who want to help a ride to the church.

Oncefallen, I absolutely agree about being overly busy as well. You've probably seen my post in the "Lord, please change me" thread by now. After my husband passed away, it was helpful to stay busy and I've often gotten carried away. We see this in churches a lot when a few people are doing most of the work for everyone and quickly burn out. This can't be pleasing to the Lord either, especially when we see Jesus withdrawing from time to time in the scriptures to spend quiet time alone with the Father. As which most things, balance is important at both ends of the spectrum.

 

[StMichaelTheArchangel]

How often do we see people who have far to much time on their hands not spending it in productive ways, so they become self-absorbed and, eventually, depressed? Please don't misunderstand me. I know that there are clinical/medical reasons for TRUE depression, but it seems to me that "depression" has become an epidemic and I'm wondering whether there is a "me first" mentality connection in many instances.

So, these are my questions:

Is idleness healthy?

Do you think there's a connection between idleness and pity parties and/or other forms of negativity and "depression"?

Are we called to be self-absorbed?

What can we as singles be doing with our "spare" time to contribute in godly ways?

Absolutely. Idleness does go hand in hand with depression, that is even what the ancient Christian monks taught. St John Cassian, a monastic Christian wrote about it, he called it listelessness.

This is what he had to say about it (mind you that this is a 4th Century writing written with great Wisdom):

On the Demon of Listlessness

From the first volume of The Philokalia, St John Cassian (4th C.)

"Our sixth struggle is against the demon of listlessness, who works hand in hand with the demon of dejection. This is a harsh, terrible demon, always attacking the monk, falling upon him at the sixth hour (mid-day), making him slack ad full of fear, inspiring him with hatred for his monastery, his fellow monks, for work of any kind, and even for the reading of Holy Scripture. He suggests to the monk that he should go elsewhere and that, if he does not, all his effort and time will be wasted. In addition to all this, he produces in him at around the sixth hour a hunger such as he would not normally have after fasting for three days, or after a long journey or the heaviest labor. Then he makes him think that he will not be able to rid himself of this grievous sickness, except by sallying forth frequently to visit his brethren, ostensibly to help them and to tend to them if they are unwell. When he cannot lead him astray in this manner, he puts him into the deepest sleep. In short, his attacks become stronger and more violent, and he cannot be beaten off except through prayer, through avoiding useless speech, through the study of the Holy Scriptures and through patience in the face of temptation. If he finds a monk unprotected by these weapons, he strikes him down with his arrows, making him a wayward and lazy wanderer, who roams idly from monastery to monastery, thinking only of where he can get something to eat and drink. The mind of someone affected by listlessness is filled with nothing but vain distraction. Finally he is ensnared in worldly things and gradually becomes so grievously caught up in them that he abandons the monastic life altogether.

The Apostle, who knows that this sickness is indeed serious, and wishes to eradicate it from our soul, indicates its main causes and says: "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother who lives in an unruly manner and not according to the tradition which you have received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to initiate us for we ourselves did not behave in an unruly manner when among you, nor did we eat any man's bread as a free gift; but we toiled strenuously night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you: not because we do not have the right, but so as to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we have you instructions that if anyone refuses to work he should have nothing to eat. For we hear that there are some among you who love in an unruly manner, nor working at all, but simply being busybodies. Now we instruct such people and exhort them by our Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own bread (2 Thess. 3:6-12). We should note how clearly the Apostle describes the causes of listlessness. Those who do not work he calls unruly, expressing a multiplicity of faults in this one word. For the unruly man is lacking in reverence, impulsive in speech, quick to abuse, and so unfit for stillness. He is a slave to listlessness. Paul therefore tell us to avoid such a person, that is, to isolate ourselves from him as from a plague. With the words "and not according to the traditions which you have received from us" he makes it clear that they are arrogant and that they destroy the apostolic traditions. Again he says: "nor did we eat any man's bread as a free gift; but we toiled strenuously night and day." The teacher of the nations, the herald of the Gospel, who was raised to the third heaven, who says that the Lord ordained that "those who preach the Gospel should live by the Gospel" (I Cor 9:14) – this same man works night and day "so that we might not be a burden to any of you." What then can be said of us, who are listless about our work and physically lazy – we who have not been entrusted with the proclamation of the Gospel or the care of the churches, but merely with looking after our own soul? Next Paul shows more clearly the harm born of laziness by adding: "not working at all, but simply being busybodies"; for from laziness comes inquisitiveness, and from inquisitiveness, unruliness, and from unruliness, every kind of evil. He provides a remedy, however, with the words: "Now we instruct such people... to work quietly and to eat their own bread." But with even emphasis, he says: "if anyone refuses to work, he should have nothing to eat."

The holy fathers of Egypt, who were brought up on the basis of these apostolic commandments, do not allow monks to be without work at any time, especially when they are young. They know that by persevering in work monks dispel listlessness, provide for their our sustenance and help those who are in need. They not only work for their own requirements, but from their labor they also minister to their guests, to the poor and to those in prison, believing that such charity is a holy sacrifice acceptable to God. The fathers also say that as a rule someone who works is attacked and afflicted by but a single demon, while someone who does not work is taken prisoner by a thousand evil spirits.

It is also good to recall when Abba Moses, one of the most experienced of the fathers, told me. I had not been living long in the desert when I was troubled by listlessness. So I went to him and said: "Yesterday I was greatly troubled and weakened by listlessness, and I was not able to free myself from it until I went to see Abba Paul." Abba Moses replied to me by saying: "So far from freeing yourself from it, you have surrendered to it completely and become its slave. You must realize that it will attack all the more severely because you have deserted your post, unless from now on you strive to subdue it through patience, prayer and manual labor."

 

[Liz01]

I think idleness is not healthy and its necesary that keep busy our minds and bodies to a good life.

Idleness has a connection with "depression" but not as a cause of it. Idleness is a consecuence of depression. A person "depressed" lose energy and interest and that may result on idleness.

I dont think we were called to be self-absorbed : 1 Corinthians 10:24 "Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others" so i agree with you Jullianna in that we should seek all the time the way we can help others and with that i think we fulfill the commandment about to love our neighbors.

 

[Jullianna]

"Folks talk about volunteering as if time is the only thing you give. the truth is it often takes a lot of money as well. Essentially you end up paying to work at a second part time job."

My computer shut down and I didn't get to ask something.

I'm confused by something...what is wrong with working a second job you don't get paid for, especially if it glorifies God? There are a lot of us worship leaders who don't get paid, but we don't do it for money. We do it because we love the Lord and it blesses us to be able to help others be blessed in this way. Same for teaching Sunday School, leading youth groups/scouts, etc., etc., etc.

 

[zeroturbulence]

Idleness is GREAT! If you can find it.

 

[perdonato]

"Folks talk about volunteering as if time is the only thing you give. the truth is it often takes a lot of money as well. Essentially you end up paying to work at a second part time job."

My computer shut down and I didn't get to ask something.

I'm confused by something...what is wrong with working a second job you don't get paid for, especially if it glorifies God? There are a lot of us worship leaders who don't get paid, but we don't do it for money. We do it because we love the Lord and it blesses us to be able to help others be blessed in this way. Same for teaching Sunday School, leading youth groups/scouts, etc., etc., etc.

I'm actually confused about what financial burdens are encountered as well... Most of the time when I'm volunteering I'm not paying for it. I am, yes, giving my time, but I am not required nor requested to give money. So I might be confused by the statement in general.

And I agree with you Jullianna. Such is the nature of GIVING. Treasures become laid up in Heaven, yes?

 

[perdonato]

I would definitely agree that excessive idleness does contribute to depression, lack of self worth, etc. However, I also believe that excessive busyness can be equally emotionally and spiritually devastating over the long term. Some of us can tend to use excessive busyness as an excuse to not develop meaningful relationships, or develop our self worth from our value to an employer instead of our value to God, family, and friends. There is definitely a balance to be found between the two.

It's true, Oncefallen... you make a valid point. (You may want to record this as a time when I agreed with you.)

I know that when I went home for Christmas I went from being busy in CO to nothing in MT for a few days and definitely noticed that I'd started to lose myself in the business. I feel like I need a reminder not to do that every now and then moreso than I need a reminder to get out and do things.

 

[Crossfire]

I'm actually confused about what financial burdens are encountered as well... Most of the time when I'm volunteering I'm not paying for it. I am, yes, giving my time, but I am not required nor requested to give money. So I might be confused by the statement in general.

And I agree with you Jullianna. Such is the nature of GIVING. Treasures become laid up in Heaven, yes?

Amen ladies. Work, no matter what kind, seldom becomes a burden if you really love what it is you're doing. Even if it costs you a lot.

I personally love to work with young people. I have driven a lot of miles, worked a lot of hours and spent a lot of money in the process. I have absolutely no regrets. To me, the reward far exceeds the expense. To see young people walking in victory over those things which had previously weighed them down because Jesus has now become the most prized possession of their hearts, I can't begin to express the joy that the Lord allows me to feel. I am both humbled and yet thrilled that God chooses to use me in such a way.