This first series, called the Deadly Series, will be a 7-week long journey where we will be discussing the 7 deadly sins that God finds detestable to his people. There will be one sin
per week, with each sin we will talk about the Godly traits we will need to exhibit to combat the deadly one. Don’t worry, we will discuss these sins in grave detail as this series will be very informative, thought-provoking, and loaded with various bible scriptures to help support and back each discussion-based topic.
Within this series, viewers/ readers will have an opportunity to purchase original content worksheets to further enrich their knowledge and gain even more Golden Nuggets!
Prayer: Father, we thank you for your amazing love that you give to us. We thank you for another day to get it right, to be one step closer to you. We thank you that you love us all, despite our sinful ways. Lord, forgive us of all our sins, even the ones that we unknowingly commit. Give us a clean heart and renew our spirit, direct and guide our steps so that we will walk upright with our head to the sky. Give us the confidence to speak your Word and minister to those who need to hear your Word. Through Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen
A Slothful Spirit
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied
Proverbs 13:4
A slothful spirit is nothing more than pure laziness. The Bible refers to sloths as inactive, sluggish individuals that are lazy in their work.
Does this sound like you?
Why is Sloth a Sin?
The bible speaks heavily on sloth. Sloth is a sin because it stunts our spiritual and physical growth and maturity. Once we stop growing in Christ, we then begin to take on the desires of our flesh rather than what God has for us. It's like the saying goes, "you snooze it, you lose it." But, in this case, if we don't become active in Christ then we lose our chances of getting into the Kingdom of Heaven. If God told you to do something or gave you an assignment and you don't actively work on it, then you fall into being disobedient, which is a sin too. So it's safe to say, any kind of idleness is sinful behavior.
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those
who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Hebrews 6:12
Laziness VS. Rest
Now, let me clear up any confusion between the difference between being lazy and getting rest. Some have the preconceived notion that there's a thin line between the two, but really there is not. Laziness is knowing you have the time to do it but choosing to not do it simply because you don't feel like it. Another example of laziness is, actually doing the work but the quality of your work is poor and rushed.
The soul of the lazy man desires, and has nothing;
but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich
Proverbs 13:4
Rest, on the other hand, is essential after being or becoming active. Being diligent in work and steadfast in completing a task, the reward for that is rest. The definition of rest is to cease from action or motion. To sleep or refrain from labor. We rest after we do something that was taxing. Think about the long hours that you put in at work, the endless amounts of time spent on assignments for school, projects, daily tasks, parental duties, spousal duties, and so on; all of these things require rest. Just like we discussed in Motivational Monday #09: Self-Care is a Must, rest is imperative, we cannot be of service to others if we are not taking care of ourselves first. Just like we cannot do what the Lord has called for us to do if we are drained, exhausted, and burnt out. Even God, as all mighty and powerful as he is, rested from the marvelous works that he did. Jesus did the same thing too, there were numerous times when Jesus went off on his own and rested.
Rest does not always mean sleep, it doesn't always mean going to bed. Rest can be done in several different ways like hanging with friends, reading the bible, going out to dinner, laying down, taking a vacation, going to the spa, being alone, and other fun activities. All in all, take some time to rest, relax, re-energize, and recharge. You’ll thank me later!
You Cannot Rest After Laziness.!
What Does the Bible Say About Being Slothful?
The Bible frowns upon people who are idle, as you can imagine. The Bible talks about this in various scriptures, that whatever we do, we must do it diligently. People who are lazy fall into poverty and eventually to their own death. Let's take a look.
Be very careful, then, how you live
—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity,
because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish,
but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:15-17
God intended for us to be fruitful with our time, to make the most of it, and not to waste it. We are given just enough time to fulfill our purpose with the resources we have been given.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer
I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Romans 7:20
Your sin will get you into trouble every single time. This is why self-control is vital in everything we do.
How Does Sloth Affect Us?
Being lazy or procrastinating robs us of the blessing, and gifts that God has given us. When we procrastinate we make ourselves anxious, and worried, and that robs us of our time, joy, and peace of mind. We are not to be anxious, the bible tells us so. It's better, in the long run, to do it now, than to wait because tomorrow is not promised!
When we become idle and procrastinate we are wasting the precious time that God gave us. We were not created to be passive followers of Christ. We were created and destined to be active and righteous disciples of Christ that obey God's will and commandments.
When we choose to be slothful we are choosing to ignore everything that God has done for us.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Characteristics of Sloth
There are so many characteristics of a lazy person, but I want to take this time to mention the select few that outshines them all. If these sound like you, don’t fret, the first thing is to realize that there is a problem, the next step is to go to God in prayer and ask Him to help you overcome your laziness.
You always have an excuse for anything and everything under the sun!
Lazy people always have some excuse as to why they can't do something, knowing full well they have nothing to do. They tend to make up lies or reasons why they are not doing what they need to do. Usually, this means they are afraid of something or simply they don't want to do it.
Usually, the common reasons why lazy people don't want to do something is because they have the fear of failure, pressure, and fear of change. Being lazy keeps you in a comfortable position, but remember, there’s no growth in idleness. Other reasons are simply because they lack responsibility, confidence, drive, and determination and all of these elements combined will cause you to become lazy.
When we have a lack of confidence in ourselves our self-esteem can and will impact our quality of life. Negative feelings and thoughts begin and it becomes hard to fight them out of our heads. Remember reading the Word of God always brings confidence, stay connected to your source of strength and be vigilant in prayer and seeking God’s face.
Too much social media & TV!
Social media and TV can be a great way to relax and unwind, but it can also be a hindrance as well. I love being on my phone like the next person but too much screen time can make me stir crazy, TV too. In college, I lived off of Netflix and that was it. I slowly winged myself off of TV so now, I'm faithful to a few shows but I've learned how to turn it off.
I understand that most people can’t do that, but it’s important to know that the time we spend on social media could be the time spent on something else.
Lack of goals or direction for your life!
I'm not saying if you don’t have goals you’re considered lazy, but we all should all have some kind of direction towards something that we are aspiring too. It’s also okay if you don’t have that yet, but we shouldn’t just pass life by so casually either. Life is too short to be serious and too serious to be short!
Put Your Slothfulness In ✅
Golden Nuggets, I Leave You!
Hey Golden Dreamers, I hope today’s post resonated with you and has inspired you for the better. I only pray that you use the time, and opportunities that God has blessed you with to move you closer to your purpose. Never be lazy but always be willing and diligent!
I leave you with this, complacency and idleness kills,
but the diligent stays humble within their purpose!
Honorable Mentions
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Romans 12:11
Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.
Colossians 3:23
and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you
1 Thessalonians 4:11
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Questions To Consider
Do you know how to micromanage your time effectively?
Do I have a problem with laziness due to low motivation or inspiration?
Am I prone to sleeping all day?
When I am working, am I doing the bare minimum? Why or Why not?
Do I make excuses as to why I shouldn't be successful in something?