Reaction to Lazyboy Furniture Memorial Day Advertisement Slogan: ‘Long live the Lazy’

Introduction 

Recently, I once again found myself unable to escape the constant stream of advertising that bombards us daily. I attempted to watch a YouTube video and, as usual, tried to skip the ads—but this time, I couldn't. I was forced to sit through yet another commercial, this one from the creative minds behind Lazy Boy Recliners. Their latest slogan caught my attention—not because of its cleverness, but because of its ironic timing. As we approach Memorial Day weekend, the slogan “Long live the LAZY” struck me as deeply contradictory to the very spirit of the holiday.

To be clear, I don’t believe the advertisers meant to be offensive. They were likely just echoing the secular, comfort-driven mindset so prevalent in today's culture—one that often reflects a worldview devoid of deeper spiritual values. But this only highlights the contrast between that message and the true meaning of Memorial Day.

Before we reflect further, let’s briefly recall the origins and purpose of Memorial Day. Then, we can examine how slogans like “Long live the LAZY” stand in stark contrast to the teachings of St. Paul, who exhorted believers to reject idleness and to honor work as part of a life lived in service to others and to God.

A Brief History of American Memorial Day and the Holiday Weekend

Memorial Day in the United States originated in the aftermath of the Civil War as a way to honor and remember those who died in military service. Originally known as Decoration Day, it began as a grassroots tradition in the late 1860s, with communities across the country—particularly in the North—holding ceremonies and decorating soldiers' graves with flowers. In 1868, General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic officially declared May 30 as a day of remembrance for Union soldiers. Over time, Southern states began to observe their own commemorations, but following World War I, Memorial Day evolved to honor all American military personnel who died in service, not just those from the Civil War.

In 1971, Memorial Day was officially designated a federal holiday and moved to the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. This shift helped solidify the broader cultural tradition of the "Memorial Day weekend," which marks the unofficial start of summer in the United States. While the holiday's solemn purpose remains at its core, the long weekend has also become associated with barbecues, parades, family gatherings, and the opening of public beaches and pools.

Despite its celebratory elements, many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, attending church services, or participating in ceremonies that reflect on the cost of freedom. The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress in 2000, asks Americans to pause at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a moment of silence to honor the fallen. Through both reflection and recreation, the holiday continues to serve as a national expression of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Hero’s were NOT Lazy 

Let us now contrast the slogan “Long live the LAZY” with the lives and legacy of the great heroes we honor on Memorial Day. These men and women, far from embracing laziness or comfort, answered the highest call of duty. They trained, served, sacrificed, and in many cases laid down their lives—not for ease or leisure, but for the preservation of freedom, justice, and the well-being of others. Their courage, discipline, and selflessness are the very opposite of the passive indulgence promoted by such advertising slogans.

Memorial Day is not about glorifying rest or idleness—it is about remembering those who labored to the utmost, often in hardship, and paid the ultimate price. It reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy were earned through blood, toil, and commitment. To flippantly celebrate laziness in the same breath as a national day of remembrance is to misunderstand, perhaps even dishonor, the values that Memorial Day upholds.

Rather than echoing a culture that avoids effort and celebrates comfort, let us use this holiday to realign ourselves with the virtues of sacrifice, service, and responsibility. In doing so, we not only honor the fallen—we also reject the creeping apathy of a culture that has forgotten what true heroism looks like.

A Biblical Survey of Holy Work 

St. Paul offers several strong exhortations throughout his epistles regarding the importance of diligent work, avoiding idleness, and leading a disciplined life—especially in the context of Christian witness and responsibility. These teachings form a theological and ethical foundation for the dignity of labor and the moral imperative to contribute to the common good

2 Thessalonians 3:6–12

This is perhaps Paul's most direct warning against laziness:

“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us... For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”
(vv. 6, 10)
Paul emphasizes that he and his companions worked hard “night and day” so as not to be a burden. He condemns those who “walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies” and instructs such individuals to work quietly and earn their own living.

1 Thessalonians 4:11–12

Paul encourages a quiet, responsible lifestyle:

“Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

This shows that holy work is not just about survival or productivity but about maintaining integrity and being a good witness to others.

Ephesians 4:28

Here, Paul links honest labor with generosity:

“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”

Work, therefore, is not only for self-support but also as a means of helping others, embodying Christian charity.

Colossians 3:23–24

Paul frames all labor as service to God:

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

This spiritualizes even the most mundane labor, reminding believers that all honest work can be sanctified when offered to God.  Together, these passages reflect Paul’s deep concern that Christians be industrious, responsible, and above reproach in both public and private life. Far from glorifying wealth or overwork, Paul's vision of labor is rooted in humility, stewardship, and love for neighbor.

Biblical Rest is Not Laziness

Let us also take a moment to distinguish between laziness and biblical rest, for they are not the same. In fact, the Scriptures present rest as something sacred—ordained by God Himself—not as an excuse for idleness, but as a necessary part of a well-ordered, purposeful life.

In the book of Genesis, we read that “on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work” (Genesis 2:2). This rest was not due to fatigue or boredom, but to sanctify time, to model a rhythm of labor and renewal. The Sabbath rest became a holy commandment—not a license for sloth, but a reminder that life is not solely defined by toil, and that human beings are created to worship, reflect, and be renewed in communion with God.

Laziness, by contrast, is condemned throughout Scripture. St. Paul warns against idleness and exhorts believers to “work with your hands... so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one” (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12). Proverbs is full of warnings to the sluggard, saying, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come upon you like a robber” (Proverbs 6:10–11).

Biblical rest is intentional, holy, and restorative. Laziness is aimless, selfish, and corrosive. The former prepares us to serve; the latter withholds us from service. The heroes we honor on Memorial Day understood this well. They gave up comfort and ease—not because rest has no value, but because their calling required action, courage, and sacrifice. True rest, in the biblical sense, comes after fulfilling one’s duty—not in avoiding it.

The Conditions for a Holy Christian Life. 

As we reflect on the slogan “Long live the LAZY” in light of Memorial Day and the Christian calling, we begin to see a stark and troubling disconnect. This phrase, designed to be clever or comforting, inadvertently promotes a mindset that is contrary to both the values of our nation’s honored dead and the principles of the Christian faith. It reflects a culture increasingly enamored with self-indulgence, escapism, and apathy—a culture that celebrates leisure without purpose and rest without responsibility.

Memorial Day reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy were not born of laziness, but of labor, courage, and ultimate sacrifice. The men and women we remember did not retreat into ease; they rose to the challenge of service, often at the cost of their own lives. Their memory calls us to something higher: to live lives worthy of their example, to work for the good of others, and to serve causes greater than ourselves. They stand as enduring reminders that meaningful rest follows meaningful effort.

Likewise, the Christian life is not one of idle comfort but of purposeful labor. Scripture teaches us to flee laziness and to pursue a life of spiritual discipline, active charity, and diligent service. St. Paul’s exhortations to “work with your hands,” to “not be idle,” and to “not grow weary in doing good” (cf. 2 Thess. 3:10–13, 1 Thess. 4:11) are not simply moral teachings—they are the very shape of a life lived in imitation of Christ. Even Jesus, who invites us to enter into His rest, did so after completing His earthly ministry, pouring Himself out in love.

There is a sacred rhythm in Christian life: labor and rest, offering and renewal, cross and resurrection. But that rest must be holy, not hollow. It must be rooted in faith and obedience, not in escape or indifference. To elevate laziness to a virtue, even in jest, is to distort the dignity of rest and reject the call to a life of service.

So this Memorial Day, let us honor those who labored unto death for our sake. Let us reject the siren call of a culture that idolizes ease. And let us instead pursue the holy, disciplined, and sacrificial life that Christ and His saints modeled—a life in which rest becomes sacred, because it follows a life poured out in love.