Is Laziness a Sneaky Sin Christians Are Ignoring?
- Emma Danzey Contributing Writer
- Published Aug 20, 2021
When asked to describe ourselves with different adjectives, a word that typically would not come up is lazy. How do we define lazy? How do we differentiate it from rest? Does laziness stem from another sin? Are Christians ignoring laziness in society today? We are going to study and examine ourselves by asking, what does the Bible say about laziness?
What Does the Bible Say about Laziness?
What does the Bible say about laziness? There are countless Proverbs from the book of wisdom that warn against laziness. “Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And a lazy person will suffer hunger” (Proverbs 19:15). “The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy hand will be put to forced labor” (Proverbs 12:24). “A lazy person does not roast his prey, But the precious possession of a person is diligence” (Proverbs 12:27). Throughout these verses, we see a theme of those who work receive the reward of their labor.
My husband and I recently bought our first home together. We love our house, but it was made in the 70s so it needs some TLC. The two of us have undergone some different projects, but one of my favorites has been painting the shutters and the front door. It took us five hours and we were so sick of painting, but the end result has left us with the satisfaction of a beautified home and a job well done. Whenever we look at those shutters now or 10 years from now, we will know that we played a part in improving them.
The former owners of our home chose to ignore some problems in the house. The dishwasher was not hooked in properly and there were some leaks under the kitchen sink. Thankfully there were no rotten floors, but my husband and I are getting the issues repaired. Their decision to be lazy and ignoring the problem resulted in ruined wood, damaged flooring, and they never got to use the brand-new dishwasher because it flooded when turned on. This is what laziness ultimately does to us. It appears easier and more appealing, but the more we ignore our responsibilities and put things off, the messier our lives will become and the less we will have to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It kind of makes me laugh thinking about how this literally connects to Ecclesiastes 10:18, “Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house.”
The truth is that anyone can be lazy. Each of us has a daily decision if we are going to be idle or active. Our kingdom work as believers is never-ending. Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” When we are tempted to push aside the call of God in our lives to serve Him, we miss our blessing of being a part of His work. Do not misinterpret zeal for busyness. Jesus Himself modeled a life of working hard and resting well. We are to follow after Him and give Him our all, but not burn out.
Is Laziness a Sin?
Laziness is a sin. Laziness is being passive or neglecting what you are accountable for whether that be in life, work, or faith. Remember, though, laziness and rest are two different things. God modeled working for six days and resting on the seventh in Genesis 1. He did not lie around every day and do nothing. The Creator Himself shows us that even in His perfection that He is actively working and doing things. He is making all things new. He is growing us. He is fulfilling His plan in the world and in the universe. When we say no to necessary jobs and tasks and become sloth-like, we are being disobedient to the Lord. Proverbs 18:9 says, “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.”
Meg Bucher from Bible Study Tools shares, “Laziness is an aversion to work, slowing our pace and productivity. “Laziness is not the passivity it pretends to be,” writes Paul Maxwell for Desiring God, 'It is active obedience to something other than Jesus Christ.’”
I find it intriguing that the verse about young widow includes the wanting to be lazy or busy. “At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention” (1 Timothy 5:13). When we are in places of difficulty or grief, it can be easy to settle into laziness and co-dependency on others. There is a time to rest, but there is also a time to work. A danger that is equally as concerning as laziness is being a busybody. I would argue that sometimes laziness can creep in by way of pointless activity. When a person busies herself with aimless activities to simply fill a calendar, it is not focused, but it is lazy. Busy does not equal productivity.
Kyle Blevins from Crosswalk shares, “We see by now that these two really go hand in hand. But true slothfulness is a two-edged sword. One edge is an abandonment of self …The other edge of the sword is self-absorption.”
What Are the Biblical Consequences of Laziness?
Clear consequences for laziness in Scripture are missing out on the reward from the work. A person can also miss the joy of working and learning new skills. A person who is lazy is more likely to fall into depression.
What does the Bible say about laziness? Hebrews 6:12, shares, “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Those who choose idleness will not be able to imitate Christ and live in faith and patience. Jessica Udall from Crosswalk reminds us, “We do not have to wait until heaven to work. When we engage in meaningful work here on earth, we live as his image-bearers, showing the world what God is like.” A consequence can at times be a financial difficulty, “Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich” (Proverbs 10:4).
Ways to Combat Laziness and Procrastination Today
I wonder if after the COVID season if laziness is more prevalent? Many of us got used to working in our pajamas and getting our food and packages dropped off at our front doors. It is so easy to slip into a lifestyle of laziness. How can we combat this today?
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you be proactive and for Him to give you vision so you do not waste your day wandering.
Create a Vision: If you do not have goals for your life and your work, you will likely not achieve them. Casting a vision will help provide a target to keep you on track with the ways the Lord is using you and give you boundaries.
Get Accountability: If you struggle with the sin of laziness regularly, invite a friend or mentor into that difficulty. Ask for this person to check in with you weekly and give you advice on how to structure your life in a more effective manner.
Set Boundaries with Devices: Create a plan for how much time that you are going to allow yourself to be on a phone or tv. Binge-watching and social media can be huge temptations to clock out and escape life. These can be great for rest, but not for long-term use.
I have definitely been guilty of being lazy in sloth mode or overcommitted to pointless activities. May we each seek God on how to best serve Him and use our time wisely for His glory. May we enjoy the rewards of our labor. May we grow in balance and understand what an active life as a believer truly entails.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Vyacheslav Dumchev
