Series: Breaking Free from the 7 Deadly Sins!
Pr Rolly Stahl, 27.9.2009
#2.Breaking Free from Sloth (the tragedy of laziness)
Proverbs 6:6-11, Proverbs 26:13-16, John 6:24-29, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
Sloth - the opposite to "busy" …and just as deadly
Over recent years we've often discussed the dangers of an unbalanced life where people work themselves into the
ground. Burnout and breakdown are common among people who are too busy to live balanced lives. Sadly, church
workers are among the highest statistics! In our series on the seven deadly sins, today we're looking at the opposite
swing of the pendulum: sloth. The modern word is laziness - and it is just as deadly as busy.
Sloths are native to Central and South American rain forests. They use their long limbs and curved claws to hang and
move along tree branches in a slow, deliberate manner, feeding on foliage that's pulled just as slowly to their mouths.
The animals spend virtually their entire lives suspended with their backs to the ground, as this Hoffman’s two-toed
sloth demonstrates. (Picture Two-Toed Sloth, Jim Tuten, "Animals" Encarta '95)
In the human domain a "sloth" is a person who's lazy or "good for nothing" by
choice. What are some other words that Aussies use? A "bludger", a "sponger", a
"bum who scunges off his mates", a "lazy bum", a "slacker", a "slug/sluggard", a
"parasite", or just "someone who doesn't give a stuff".
For the sloth, slackness is a way of life. The sloth will make every excuse in the
world to avoid work or exertion of any kind. Like on one of the recent current affair
shows, there was a chap who refused to work because it interrupted his passion for
surfing - yet he never refuses his Centrelink unemployment benefit!
Discuss: What are some excuses people make to avoid work? (One of the best
ones I've ever heard: "Ooooh, I can’t mow the lawns 'cos I've got a bone in my arm!")
God's gift of work
We often forget that work is a gift from God. In the creation account of Genesis 2, it says: The LORD God took the
man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Gen 2:15) Friends, get this: Adam was
not made to sit around on his bum all day long. God not only made the world for us to live in, but also to work in. In
our work, we join in God's work. In our rest we join in God's rest. The lazy person is refusing to participate in what
God made us to do: to look after HIS world and those who live in it.
Sadly, on account of the fall, work became difficult. Adam had to sweat and toil to make his livelihood in an
environment that became difficult and sometimes hostile (cf Gen 3:17-19). Yet, God's blueprint remains - that we
engage in useful living. Drudgery in our work is transformed as we enter life with Jesus. Although we live in a marred
and scarred world, we can find purpose and joy in our work by serving others in his name. And as followers of Jesus,
we know that he is leading us to perfect rest. In heaven, I believe we will again experience joy and fulfillment in our
work - like what Adam and Eve experienced in the Garden of Eden.
Proverbs on sloth
Proverbs are the wisdom writings of the Bible. They tell us how we can enjoy deeper relationships and a better
quality of life. Let me share a few snippets of wisdom from long ago on the plight of the sloth/sluggard. I invite you to
use your imagination to see the pictures -and seek to get the point of what these Proverbs describe:
(Proverbs 6:6-11) Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions
in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little
slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
(Proverbs 24:30-32) I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the
ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.
(Proverbs 12:24) Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.
(Proverbs 15:19) The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
(Proverbs 20:4) A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.
(Proverbs 10:4) Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
(Proverbs 13:4) The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
(Proverbs 21:25) The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
(Proverbs 18:9) One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
(Proverbs 26:13-16) The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!" As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard
turns on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than
seven men who answer discreetly.
How Paul addresses the problem at Thessonalica: "No worky, no eaty!"
A tent maker by trade went to a city to proclaim the Good News of Jesus. While visiting Thessonalica, Paul and his
friends worked to make a living. On top of that, they looked for opportunities to share Jesus with both Jews and
Greek-speaking people. However, after only a few weeks some trouble makers ran Paul out of town. Forced to flee,
he sent back his young off-sider, Timothy, to see how these new Christians were doing (3:6). Some good things were
happening: people were generous, they were remaining faithful to Jesus despite pressure to go back to their idols,
and they were showing fair dinkum Christian love to one another. However, there were also a few struggles. Some
of these new Christians thought they could quit working and sit around waiting for Jesus' return. In the meantime they
were sponging off others, and becoming a burden. Instead of keeping busy, these bludgers became busy bodies.
In his first letter, Paul encourages them to get back to work: Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own
business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you
will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12) Paul is saying that by taking responsibility for ourselves as we
faithfully go about our work, Christians bring respect and honour to the name of Jesus Christ.
Sadly, Paul's advice fell like water off a duck's back. These sloths kept bludging. Kept using their friends. Kept
refusing to work. Kept justifying their laziness with the excuse that since Jesus was coming soon they didn't need to
work. So it's no surprise that Paul was much firmer in his next letter:
Our orders —backed up by the Master, Jesus— are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and
refuse to work the way we taught you. Don't permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when
we were with you, so get on with it. We didn't sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our
fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn't be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn't because we
didn't have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove
contagious.
Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don't work, you don't eat." And now we're getting reports
that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work
immediately —no excuses, no arguments— and earn their own keep. Friends, don't slack off in doing your duty.
If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don't let him get by with it. Point out such a person and
refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he'll think twice. But don't treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the
problem as someone who cares. (2 Thess. 3:6-15 The Message)
You could sum this up in four words: "No worky - no eaty!" Refuse to work - no food for you! Please note that Paul
distinguishes between those unwilling to work and those unable to earn a living. While the community of faith is to
care for genuine widows who have no family support (cf 1 Tim. 5:3-9), Paul here urges us not to support genuine
bludgers. Instead of sponging off others, they need to take responsibility for themselves. Note how Paul uses himself
as an example to urge the Thessalonian Christians to ALL be willing and fruitful workers (2 Thess. 3:7-8). If you're yet
convinced about that yourself, then take a look at Jesus.
Jesus' work of our salvation
Jesus worked for most of his life on earth as a carpenter (and maybe some stone work as well. Sepphoris was a
modern town close to Nazareth where Joseph and Jesus may have done some building). If he started at 15, he did
that for 15 years - 5 times longer than his 3 years of ministry. Could you imagine Jesus bumming around the back of
the shop, just watching the work pile up? Could you imagine him doing a slack job? Could you imagine him sponging
off the community at Nazareth because he refused to work? No way!
Now with respect to his ministry, what would have happened if Jesus did nothing? We would be left in the mess of
our sin - without grace, without hope and without God in the world. Jesus' work was to carry out the will of the Father
- even when it meant dying in my place and yours - to save us from our sins. That work was not finished until he
shouted his victory cry from the cross: "tetelestai" = "It is finished!" (Jn 19:30) Mission accomplished. Job's done.
The punishment for the guilt of all humanity has been paid in full. Your sins are forgiven! By his work, Jesus has
opened up the kingdom of God for all. And now he calls you and me to continue his work in this world. How? By
serving others - and inviting them to also put their hope in Him.
A work ethic for followers of Jesus
Jesus' life of service is the pattern for our lives of service. He frees us from self-service to serving others. No longer
do we work to bring glory to self, but to bring glory to God. No longer do we look to building up our kingdoms on earth
by using others, but his kingdom by serving others. See how Jesus transforms our work!
Whether employed or a volunteer, whether in the work force or at home, whether paid or unpaid - our work gives us
endless opportunities to bless others. By doing your job diligently and well, you are helping other people in the world.
For example: the factory worker makes items that help other people (very important if they are high tensile bolts that
hold the wings onto an airplane to do the job well!). The farmer grows food for the people and animals of the world.
The mother and father nurture their children to become mature, responsible, God-fearing, citizens. The town
planner tries to plan a suburb where hassles are kept to a minimum and people can live in peace. The shop worker
helps people to find what they are looking for, and to leave the store with one less problem. The pastor helps people
know and grow in Jesus through the Word of God. The business manager employs people and provides goods and
services on a large scale that touches many lives. The counselor helps people discover the root of their problems
and work towards solutions. The retired have opportunity to write, to encourage, and to enjoy hobbies with other
people. The student has opportunity to gain as much from their studies as they can, so they are well equipped to
serve people in jobs when they graduate. The volunteer can visit others, help out the disadvantaged, or serve in the
local church or community. The musician and artist help others to enjoy beauty. No matter what you and I do for
work, see how we can serve others whom God puts around us!
The joy of working for Jesus
And as a Christian, the greatest joy in our work is to know that we are working for the Lord. As we carry out our work,
we believe that when we do it faithfully - and to the glory of God - it makes a difference in HIS world. There was once
a high school teacher who immigrated to another country. Since he didn't know the language well, the best job he
could get was as a public toilet cleaner. Most people would balk at this and refuse to work. But as a Christian this
man knew that he could serve God well as a toilet cleaner. So his work habit was this. He would keep those toilets
as if Jesus would be the next person to use them. He kept them spotless!! Can you imagine what a relief it was for
mothers with children to use public toilets that were kept as clean as a whistle?
There's no better Boss than working for Jesus. Not only does he free us from the drudgery of addiction to work, but
he also frees us from the selfishness of sloth. Today's last word belongs to Paul, who sums up the Christian work
ethic in another of his letters: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you
know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23-24) Amen.