I've heard some people say that lazy people are able to find the quickest solutions to some problems. They can find quick fixes for many things, and are able to solve problems in a short amount of time. This, according to some, is because they aren't willing enough to put up with work and would rather get it done quickly so that they can just loaf around.

While these explanations may seem logical, and these ideas around being lazy sound not so bad, the truth is that laziness is always wrong. Not only is it unpleasant in the sight of God, it also isn't really helpful and beneficial in the long run.

In this article we'll talk about how to distinguish the diligent from the lazy. If the statements above are true, then it follows that lazy people can pose as dependable and trustworthy diligent people who can get the job done. We've got to know the difference.

Distinguishing the truly diligent from those who only appear to be diligent

Here are a few distinguishing marks of both the lazy and the diligent.

1) The lazy get stuck in poverty, but the diligent will work to get out of it

Proverbs 10:4-5 tells us,

"He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame."

Laziness will always lead to poverty, most especially financially. Many lazy people don't wonder why they're poor, and don't even work to improve their own situations. Apparently, they'd rather sleep when they should be working, and rest when it's time to plow the ground.

2) Lazy people keep dreaming, while diligent people work

Proverbs 12:11-12 tells us,

"He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding. The wicked covet the catch of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit."

Diligent people work hard to reach their goals. They take advantage of their resources and make it as profitable as can be, and make sure that they will have enough to meet their needs.

Lazy people, on the other hand, merely envy the rewards of the diligent man's labor. They keep dreaming of the diligent man's provisions, envy his hard-earned possessions, and spend time chasing after fantasies with no desire to work for them.

3) Lazy people are never content, while the diligent are able to get contented

Perhaps you're surprised to read that description about the diligent. Proverbs 13:4 tells us that it's true:

"The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich."

As aforementioned, diligent people work to reach their goals. Though their goals may change over time, they won't stop working for it. They can start poor, but with due diligence they will soon be in a better situation financially.

Diligent people get satisfied with the results of their work. They find contentment with the fruits of their labor.

Lazy people, on the other hand, find no contentment. They don't work, and thus they can't achieve what they dream of. They are stuck in the dreaming phase - and live unsatisfied lives full of unmet desires.

Lazy people dream hard, but work not. Diligent people dream, and work hard to reach them.