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.
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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.