Sloth
I. IntroductionA. Guard our heart• Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Prov 4:23
• A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil
person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. Lk 6:45
B. Our hearts are under attack• Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring
lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.
I Pet 5:8
• For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and
authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against
evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you
will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Eph 6:12
C. We are responsible to protect our hearts• A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on
and suffers the consequences. Prov 22:3
• Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well
done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each
responsible for our own conduct. Gal 6:4
D. Define our termsWebster: Sloth = A disinclination to action or labor, The quality or state of being lazy
• Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Prov 19:15 JKV
• Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry. Prov 19:15 NLT
II. Why sloth and laziness is a big deal• A. Sloth keeps us from doing what is right• A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 then
poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
Prov 6:10
• You must diligently obey the commands of the LORD your God—all the laws and decrees
he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so all will go well with
you. Deut 6:17
B. We were created to work, sloths stops us• God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male
and female he created them. 28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and
multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Gen 1:27
• Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I. Jn 5:17
• “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been
faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities.
Let’s celebrate together! Mat 25:20
• The master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! - from those who do nothing, even
what little they have will be taken away. Mat 25:26
C. Work is needed to live• A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.
Prov 18:13
• While we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not
get to eat. II Thes 3:10
• Those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have
denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. I Tim 5:8
D. Work is needed to know God and to grow• Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and
fear. Phil 2:12
• I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce
much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Jn 15:5
• If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the
LORD. Jer 29:13
• Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than
for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and
that the Master you are serving is Christ. Col 3:23
III. Real faith produces worksA. We are saved by grace• For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift
of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so
that we would walk in them. Eph 2:8 NASB
• So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and
useless. Jam 2:17
B. Working is a result of love• We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give
up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and
sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that
person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the
truth by our actions. I Jn 3:16
IV. Summary and application• LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are
numbered— how fleeting my life is. We only have so much time- Ps 39:4
• They flourish in the courts of our God. 14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit.
Ps 92:13