The term sloth can be translated as lazy. But most people wonder whether laziness is a sin and whether being lazy offends God. Others seek to understand whether this is a deadly sin or one they should not worry about. So, what is the sin of sloth?
The sin of sloth is the sin of laziness or not working when you are capable and have an opportunity to do so. God initiated work by working for six days during creation, as stated in Genesis 2:2: And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. God worked, and hence, slothfulness is ungodly.
In this article, we will explore what the Bible says about being a sloth and whether being a sloth is among the seven deadly sins. In doing so, we will highlight the bible verses that teach about the sin of sloth. We are writing this article to enlighten you about sin, and you will learn how to overcome the sin of sloth.
What does the Bible say about being a sloth?
The Bible speaks widely about being a sloth. To begin with, the Bible says, laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger. Proverbs 19:15. The Bible says that a sloth or a lazy person is a heavy sleeper because laziness cast him into a deep sleep. Although sleep is a good thing, and everyone should enjoy it, when it is in excess, it might indicate laziness.
Sleep is also a symptom of laziness. The second thing the Bible says about being a sloth in this verse is that one is idle. A lazy person refuses to work and therefore remains idle. Such a person will suffer hunger. Therefore, being a sloth, one will sleep excessively, remain idle, and eventually suffer hunger.
Secondly, the Bible says that a sloth will come to ruin: The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor. Proverbs 21:25. In this verse, the Bible says that even though a lazy person has desires, he will just come to ruin because they have refused to work. Every person has desires for a better life. But desires mean nothing without one putting in the effort required to make the desires a reality. In this verse, the Bible strongly warns that a sloth will ruin his life.
In Proverbs 10:4: He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. The Bible says that a slack hand or a sloth ends up poor. Poverty is ungodly. Kenneth Copeland Ministries note that poverty is not the will of God and that Satan wants the believer to remain poor. One of the strategies that Satan uses to ensure this is to cause one to be a sloth. If Satan succeeds at making you a sloth, he has succeeded in making you poor. Therefore, the Bible in this verse teaches that poverty is a function of being a sloth.
Other bible verses that talk about being a sloth include: The soul of a lazy man desires and has nothing, But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. Proverbs 13:4, Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. Ecclesiastes 10:18, He who is slothful in his work; Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer. Proverbs 18:9, A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. Proverbs 19:24
Why is sloth among the seven deadly sins?
Sloth is among the seven deadly sins because it is a source of other sins and cultivates immoral behavior. The seven deadly sins, which include sloth, wrath, gluttony, envy, lust, greed, and pride, can cause a person to sin further and continue in immoral behavior. So, how does being a sloth make a person more sinful?
Being a sloth can turn a person into a thief. As noted earlier, the Bible in Proverbs 19:15 says that a lazy person will suffer hunger. Hunger is sometimes a consequence of laziness. According to to Ernest Smartt, when people fail to meet their basic needs due to laziness, they may seek shortcuts to getting what they must have in life. One such shortcut is through stealing. Borrowing and not repaying is a form of stealing, and most people find themselves in such situations.
Being a sloth strains and breaks relationships. God is the author of relationships. We must maintain the relationships by making the necessary efforts to grow and maintain them. According to MantraCare, laziness is a killer of relationships because it causes people to neglect their friends and families. In the book of 1 Timothy 5:8, Paul says, ” But if anyone does not provide for his own, especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. A sloth will neglect his family, cause strained relationships and fail to provide for his family, which makes him worse than a believer. It is no wonder slothfulness is among the seven deadliest sins.
Which Bible verses teach about the sin of sloth?
One of the bible verses that teach excellently about the sin of sloth is Mathew 25:14-30. It is the parable of the talents. Jesus gave a parable where three people were given talents to trade. The two who received five and two talents traded them and brought double. However, the third who was given one talent never traded and brought just a single talent, then his master said: You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So, you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I would have received back my own with interest. So, take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. Matthew 25:26-28. This parable demonstrates how a lazy person behaves and how he ends up.
The Bible teaches that each person is entrusted with some talent in this verse. It may not be the same as another person, but it should bring about gain. A lazy person does not utilize talent, and God is displeased by that. Because of laziness, the person ends up with nothing and is cast out into the outer darkness. This passage teaches us that slothfulness is a sin that will lead to the loss of what one has and being punished by casting out to the outer darkness. This verse implies that the sin of sloth is deadly.
Also, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 has significant teaching about the sin of sloth. It says: For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. In this passage, Paul demonstrates how serious the sin of slothfulness is. He prescribes a harsh punishment by instructing that a sloth should not be given food. This verse teaches that being a sloth is a sin and prescribes a harsh punishment for it.
How do you overcome the sin of sloth as a Christian?
Christians must overcome the sin of sloth. The Catholic Women in Business suggest that you must plan your day to overcome sloth. List the tasks you need to carry out during the day and focus on each task at a time. Dedicate your full attention to the task until you complete it. At the end of the day, evaluate what you did and how you did it. Note the shortcomings and note how to overcome them in the future.
The second way of overcoming the sin of sloth is ensuring that you have SMART goals and using the Five F’s model (Rayan Sanders). SMART means that you must set specific, measurable, achievable, result-based, and time-bound goals. The five Fs are faith, Family, fitness, finance, and fun. You must have time to pray and read the word of God (Faith). You must have time for your family by specifying activities you will carry out with them (Family).
Additionally, you must have fitness goals and activities (Fitness). Having financial goals helps you to have saving discipline and work towards achieving them. Finally, you must ensure you have time for fun.
References
The Negative Effects Of Laziness, By Ernest Smartt
Am I Lazy?: Consequences Of Being Lazy
Fighting Sloth: Overcoming Despair and Renewing Hope
The deadly sin of sloth and how to eliminate it from your life
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
