Last Friday’s Proverb was a stern warning against taking on debt.  This week, the Proverb covers another kind of dishonesty.  While taking on debt that you may or may not be able to repay is outward dishonesty – idleness is yet another form of sinful dishonesty – a form that we all too often excuse ourselves for doing. 

Proverbs 6:6-8

⁶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:  ⁷ Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,  ⁸ Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Job 12:7

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

2 Thessalonians 3:10

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Idleness is a sin that every Christian needs to take strong action against.  Idleness should not be confused with taking rest – for even our Creator rested.  I will relate now, a story from my childhood – which aptly demonstrates the old adage – “Idle hands are the devil’s playground.”

My mother was a fabulous cook, and after my grandmother found it too taxing to host the family holiday get-togethers, it became my mother’s sole responsibility.  One Christmas, while the men were in the family room discussing politics as usual, the ladies were in the kitchen preparing the feast.  The ladies included me (age 10) my older sister (age 16) my mother, grandmother, and my aunt. 

My mother, sister, and grandmother, were all at different parts of the counter and stove, variously chopping and stirring, while I manned the sink and the dishes.  My aunt – a perpetually whiny creature, was sitting at the kitchen table facing all of our backs, and flicking through an open cookbook of my mother’s – while complaining about my uncle – her husband (also my grandmother’s son.) 

This griping went on for about 20 minutes while we were all sweating with our work, when finally my grandmother, bless her, said quietly but firmly – “Shut up and read your cookbook!”  The point of this story being – the harder you are working – the less time you have to feel sorry for yourself. 

1 Thessalonians 4:11

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. 

Matthew 20:6

And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

Proverbs 6:9-11

⁹ How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

¹⁰ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

¹¹ So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

We could post a list here of common things that encourage laziness and steal our time, such as TV and Facebook – but blaming those things is another form of laziness – because the real blame rests right on our proverbial laps.  No “thing” is the cause of our sluggishness except our own sinful selves, anymore than alcohol makes an alcoholic, or beautiful items at the store cause shoplifting.  The sin is ours and ours alone.  If we are honest, we could all admit to at least occasional idleness – in my case – it is more than occasional!  The reason we don’t turn off our computers, televisions and telephones is because we- don’t- want- to! 

Slothfulness at work – whether at home, job, or school, will lead to poverty says the Proverb.  I know women who whine that they do not have enough money to buy food, yet will not invest an hour a week to carefully plan shopping and coupons.  Yet these same females will spend an entire hour on the phone, complaining about how little they have to spend!  How many workers complain tirelessly about their jobs – but won’t work hard enough to advance themselves?  Dishes won’t wash themselves, laundry won’t fold itself, papers won’t file by sitting on your desk – and product orders will not be filled by osmosis.  Doing the minimum is idleness – and it is very, very sinful.  The church is guilty as charged, for sitting back in comfort and not contending for the faith as instructed by the Word of God. 

1 Corinthians 15:58

King James Version (KJV)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.