WFT- malinger

02 June 2009

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for June 1st was malinger.   M-W defined it this way:

to pretend or exaggerate incapacity or illness (as to avoid duty or  work)

This was the etymology they provided:

Do you know someone who always seems to develop an ailment when there's work to be done? Someone who merits an Academy Award for his or her superb simulation of symptoms? Then you know a malingerer. The verb "malinger" comes from the French word "malingre," meaning "sickly," and one who malingers feigns illness. In its earliest uses in the 19th century, "malinger" usually referred to a soldier or sailor pretending to be sick or insane to shirk duty. Later, psychologists began using "malingering" as a clinical term to describe the feigning of illness in avoidance of a duty or for personal gain. Today, "malinger" is used in just about any context in which someone fakes sickness or injury to get out of an undesirable task.

This brings to mind Paul's exhortation to the Colossians:

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.  - Colossians 3:23-25

Psalms also gives us direction:

Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.  - Psalm 100:2

Paul also encourages us to

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.  - Philippians 2:14-16

To Him who has created us to do good works (Ephesians 2:10) in Messiah Yeshua  (and not to malinger!) be the glory and power and honor forever.  Amen.

Last modified on 07 January 2017

Torah Portion

unknown

 

 

or view this week's triennial cycle reading.

Today is

Yom Shabbat, 12 Nisan, 5784

Saturday, April 20, 2024

 

Learn more about this date in history.