Being Still? or Being Lazy?

A few days ago I became frustrated with one of my friends seeming inability to just stop. We were out together, and it seemed like the moment the conversation lulled, I found it filled with unnecessary small talk, the moment we stopped to sit and enjoy the moment, we were up again and moving, often without any particular destination. It really seemed as if it were impossible for them to just be.

At one point, I jokingly said "Doesn't the Bible say to "be still and know that I am God"?

The reply? "The Bible also teaches against laziness."

This seemingly innocent interaction has left me thinking for several days now. Which one of us is right? Or. as I suspect ,are we both right? How do we reconcile the two?

Well, let's start by going to Scripture, shall we?

Passages about stopping, resting, being still:

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  -- Psalm 46:10
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.  -- Psalm 37:7

Passages rebuking laziness:

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;  -- Colossians 3:23The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.  -- Proverbs 21:25
There are multiple passages supporting both ideas. So, what to make of it? Well, I think it may be settled with another verse:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.  -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time, a season, for everything. There are times for us to work hard, and times for us to be still. There are times for busy-ness, and times for us to be quiet. For us to rest all the time would be folly. But it would be equally ludicrous for us to force ourselves to be active constantly.

In short, we were both right. Use your time wisely, work hard when there is work to do, but rest equally hard.

As always, thanks for checking in.