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Slothfulness(laziness)

/SLAHTH-ful-nes/

Summary

Habitual laziness, idleness, and disinclination to work—a sin condemned throughout Scripture as bringing poverty and shame.

The Slothful Servant

In Jesus' parable of the talents, the man with one talent who buried it was condemned as 'wicked and slothful.' The words were well coupled—he was wicked because he had been slothful. It is the man of limited gifts who is most tempted by this sin, yet genius has yielded to sloth as well as mediocrity.

Key verses:Matthew 25:24-27

Proverbs on Laziness

'Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.' The sluggard turns on his bed like a door on hinges; he hides his hand in his dish and will not bring it to his mouth again. 'A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest'—so poverty comes like an armed man.

Key verses:Proverbs 6:6-11Proverbs 24:30-34Proverbs 26:13-16Proverbs 10:26Proverbs 12:24, 27Proverbs 13:4Proverbs 15:19Proverbs 18:9Proverbs 19:15, 24Proverbs 20:4Proverbs 21:25Proverbs 22:13Proverbs 23:21

New Testament Teaching

'Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.' Paul warned the Thessalonians against idleness: 'If any would not work, neither should he eat.' The apostle himself was 'in labours most abundant' and set the example of diligent labor. The sluggard's building decays through idleness of hands.

Key verses:Romans 12:112 Thessalonians 3:10-122 Corinthians 11:23Hebrews 6:12Ecclesiastes 10:18

Related Verses23 mentions

Proverbs· 17 verses

Matthew· 2 verses

Ecclesiastes· 1 verse

Isaiah· 1 verse

References

  1. 1.James Hastings (ed.), "Slothfulness," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
  2. 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Slothfulness," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
  3. 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Slothfulness," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
  4. 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Slothfulness," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
  5. 5.James Hastings (ed.), "Slothfulness," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
  6. 6.James Hastings (ed.), "Slothfulness," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
  7. 7.James Hastings (ed.), "Slothfulness," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).