Warning to the sluggard

The nature and lifestyle of the ant fascinated King Solomon so much that he took a swipe at sluggards: “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man” (Proverbs 6:9-11). 

A sluggard is a person who is habitually inactive and lazy. What does the Bible say about him? He is a procrastinator. His motto.” He has developed the ability to put off starting a task as well as completing those tasks already begun. He’s full of excuses for not working (Proverbs 22:13). 

While the opportunity to work comes, he’s not quite ready for it (Proverbs 10:5). He’s always just about ready to start a job, but not quite. Those tasks which he has already started never seem to get finished. The projects which he begins always seem to be more time consuming and demanding than he first thought. He doesn’t hesitate to rectify his rash decision to begin a task by later setting it aside. Proverbs 20:4 says, “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.”

The sluggard takes the path of least resistance. If he’s anything, he is lazy. His one and only “tool” is his bed. He lacks the diligence of those who are wise. Because of his laziness, he will choose the course of action which appears to involve the least amount of sacrifice on his part and gives the greatest amount of immediate pleasure. When work cannot be avoided, he is open to schemes which make money the easiest way. But the scriptures say, “He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough” (Proverbs 28:19).

The sluggard requires constant supervision and prodding. Without pressure and prodding, he will not carry out his responsibilities. Something dramatic is required to overcome his immense inertia, whether it is the hunger pangs of his own stomach (Proverbs 13:25, 16:26) or the whip of a taskmaster (Proverbs 12:24). In proverbs 6:6-8, he is urged to learn from the ant, which goes about is task faithfully, yet without any supervision.  He’s also short-sighted, undisciplined and uncourageous.

Some Christians are sluggards. They show all the foregoing symptoms of slothfulness, yet complain about their impecuniosities. They desire to live a good life but are indolent. They know nothing about the dignity of labour. They complain about the economy of the nation, the state of unemployment, the paucity of jobs, and use these as a justification for their idleness. Instead of being all out searching for a job, or being creative and innovative, they depend on others and the church for support. They profess to have faith in God, hence, pray about their lack of work or joblessness; yet they are too lazy to even see opportunity when it comes, let alone seizing it. If you’re a sluggard, you must learn diligence from the ants. 

There are three consequences of being a sluggard: deprivation, poverty and divine judgment. The Bible warns against supporting the sluggard (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Any able-bodies person who begs from door to door should never be assisted. He should be deprived unless he’s willing to do all he can do for his own support. Anyone, organization or church who assists him contributes to foster indolence. Such will not be justified by God. Moreover, the result of laziness is often spoken of more generally as “Poverty” and God’s judgment because indolence is a sin (Proverbs 6:10-11; 19:15).

The bottom line for the sluggard is that he must stop loafing and get to work. Whether he is forced by pain and pressure or (far better) by a new outlook on life, he must overcome his lethargy and do what needs to be done, because “In all about there is profit,” says the Holy writ (Proverbs 14:23). 

So indolent Christian, repent of your laziness, rise from your bed and get to work. If you’re not a Christian, repent of all your sins including those of idleness, and accept Jesus as your savior and Lord.