Sloth / Diligence
Notes
Transcript
What is sin? Moody Monthly included this explanation of sin in one issue:
Man calls it an accident, God calls it abomination.
Man calls it a defect, God calls it a disease.
Man calls it an error, God calls it an enmity.
Man calls it a liberty, God calls it lawlessness.
Man calls it a trifle, God calls it a tragedy.
Man calls it a mistake, God calls it a madness.
Man calls it a weakness, God calls it willfulness.
In short, we try to excuse sin in our lives, but God warns that we will be held accountable for all that we say, for all that we do, even for all we do not do. This morning we pick up the deadly sin of slothfulness – the sin of inactivity. Please turn with me to Proverbs 24.
I have not been giving you time to look up verses. If you have wondered why, it’s because in this series on the Seven Deadly Sins – Seven Godly Virtues, I am almost preaching two sermons each week – one on the sin, one on the virtues. As a result I have tried to move as quickly as possible. This will continue this week and for the last message in this series next week.
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. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: 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 24:30-34)
Solomon says he viewed a field as he traveled along the road. The field stood out not because it well tended, but because it had not been tended at all. Though it should have been producing fruit, the vineyard was barren because it was overgrown with weeds. Though once it had been productive for its owner, the plants have become choked out by weeds and thorns. Note that the vineyard had not been planted in the middle of thorns, but the thorns had been allowed to come in and take over. As you are well aware, weeds don’t need much attention. They don’t need care, they come up on their own.
In addition, the stone wall was in disrepair. Had there been any fruit growing in the vineyard, the wild animals would have come in and eaten it.
Notice Solomon comments concerning the field and its owner. He does not condemn the owner. Instead, he sees the field and receives instruction for himself he eagerly shares with his reader. For such are the actions of the wise – they are able to learn from the example of the foolish. Far from judging the owner of the vineyard for his laziness, Solomon received instruction from what he saw. Seeing the state of the ruined vineyard, Solomon realized that the condition of a sloth is not difficult to fall into. All it takes is nothing. A little neglect here. A little sleep there. A little folding of the hands. A little bit of rest. And there you are.
What was true of this vineyard is true in the rest of our lives. All it takes for a relationship to begin to run down is a little neglect. All it takes for a house, a car, or a job to suffer is a little neglect. Most things that are important to us require attention and care. It doesn’t take much inattention before things start to fall apart. So, Solomon calls our attention to this vineyard that we might learn from what he saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you.
About ten years the Chicago Tribune published a series of articles on the Seven Deadly Sins. The articles are particularly interesting because they were written from secular perspective and clearly illustrate the subtle ways these seven sins creep into our lives. In her essay titled “Sloth, the Seventh Deadly Sin, Keeps You from Becoming the Person You Could Be,” author Regina Barreca addressed the sin of sloth.
Sloth is insidious. It whispers that you might as well do it tomorrow, that nobody will know if you cut corners here and there to save yourself some trouble, that the world will be the same in a hundred years no matter what you do, so why do anything? Sloth says, “Don’t strain yourself,” “What’s the big hurry?” and “Just give me five more minutes.”
Sloth hits the snooze alarm, hits the remote control and hits the road when the going gets tough. . . . Sloth cheats on exams, drinks straight from the milk carton and leaves exactly two sheets on the toilet roll so that it will have to be replaced by the next poor soul who finds out too late that the remaining paper is nothing more than a mirage. Sloth does slightly less than the right thing.
What is sloth? It’s not a word we hear very often. I think we often confuse it with being lazy because the two are interchangeable. But it is possible to not be lazy and still be a sloth. It is possible to stay quite busy and still be a sloth. Slothfulness is not just a matter of doing nothing, it is a matter of keeping busy not doing that which is important. Solomon didn’t say the owner of the vineyard had not been doing something, just that he had not been taking care of the vineyard.
Slothfulness can be called the sin of laziness, indifference, apathy, a pulling back emotionally from anything important. The best synonym for slothfulness in our day is “Whatever.” It is a term used to say: “I don’t care. I’m bored. I’m not excited about anything, I’m not interested in anything, I’m not satisfied with anything, and I’m not passionate about anything.” Slothfulness is the sin of whatever.
Slothfulness can take various forms. The most obvious is physical slothfulness.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about some who were becoming lazy.
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. (2 Thessalonians 3:10-11)
The sloth says, “I’ll do it if it does not take too much effort.” This was the sin of the sluggard Solomon describes in Proverbs 24. It took too much work to keep out the weeds. It took too much effort to repair the wall.
There is a story of an old mountaineer and his wife who were sitting in front of the fireplace one evening just whiling away the time. After a long silence, the wife said: “Jed, I think it’s raining. Get up and go outside and see.” The old mountaineer continued to gaze into the fire for a second and then called out to the dog. “Blue, Come here Blue. Come here boy.” His wife looked him in the eye and asked, “Why are you calling the dog? I wanted to know if it was raining, not where the dog was.” He said, “I know. If the dog’s wet, it’s raining. If the dog’s dry, it’s not.”
Sheer laziness has probably been responsible for more shortcuts, not to mention valuable inventions, than we are ready to admit. Most of us are continually on the lookout, at least subconsciously, for easier ways to perform onerous or routine tasks. It has been said that some people would do anything to be able to do nothing.
Next, there is a mental slothfulness.
We’re content with what we know, with the books we’ve read, and with the things we’ve learned. We’ve made up our minds. We know the truth and the truth has set us free – from any further inquiry. So, we stop studying. Some don’t have to study hard to get good grades so don’t work hard. Some figure they’ll never get good grades so they stop trying. This is a slothfulness of the mind.
In Acts 17 Paul brought the good news of the gospel to the Bereans. And what did they do? They didn’t just accept it because some wise teacher told them it was true. We are told they looked into for themselves to see if what Paul was teaching was true.
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.(Acts 17:11)
What Scriptures were they studying? They were studying the Old Testament. The books of law and prophecy that they had been raised with, and that they would have had to memorize large passages from as young children. But they didn’t allow their knowledge of the scriptures keep them from further study. They were ready to learn more.
And third, there is a spiritual laziness.
Spiritual sluggards are those people who know they have issues – sins – they need to work on, but never get around to doing it. She is content to live with her anemic prayer life. He is content to remain locked in the cycle of lust and shame that’s plagued him for years. She knows she should be using her gifts in ministry, but just can’t find the time. They hear the challenge of Jesus and go away sad.
In the book of Revelation Jesus condemns the Laodiceans for their spiritual laziness.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.(Revelation 3:15-16)
To be hot is human. To be cold is human. To be neither is intolerable. To be hot is useful. To be cold is useful. What God cannot understand is an apathetic church – a church or a Christian that has become slothful.
We like to can vegetables and put them away for winter. It’s like storing up God’s Word in our heart, and having it there when we need it. Be diligent to plant and store God’s Word in our heart, so that when a trial or persecution comes you have his Word to get you through.
Why do people become lazy and slothful?
Some become comfortable.They like things the way they are and so have no desire to grow or change. They describes the Laodiceans. They were wealthy and satisfied. Jesus says of them:
You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Revelation 3:17)
We become slothful when we become complacent. “I have what I need, I don’t really need much more.”
Some become slothful because they are burned out. They’ve tired, have worked hard for the Lord for years and are in need of rest. Perhaps they worked hard and see no results or no solutions. To be burnt out means to feel trapped. They lose heart and energy for the work before them.
Other have become indifferent because of past hurts. They used to serve with passion and zeal, but they’ve had a few setbacks and battles along the way which has taken the life out of them. They may ask, “What’s the use?” Some will say, “I’ve tried to be open in the past, but I got hurt.” So, they retreat back into themselves and become spectators rather than participants. It is a lot safer that way.
Perhaps other we see the indifference in others. They feel like they are the only ones working, so they stop trying. So, they as why they should care when no one else does.
God is calling us to an eternal rest, but the rest hasn’t come yet. The eternal rest is for the next life, not this one. Right now, God wants us to be working. He has a job for us to do. God has called us to diligence.
Concerning the passions of Jesus, Walter Hansenin, in an article in Christianity Today a few years ago wrote:
I am spellbound by the intensity of Jesus’ emotions: Not a twinge of pity, but heartbroken compassion; not a passing irritation, but terrifying anger; not a silent tear, but groans of anguish; not a weak smile, but ecstatic celebration. Jesus’ emotions are like a mountain river cascading with clear water. My emotions are more like a muddy foam or a feeble trickle.
Jesus went at life with all his heart, all soul, and with all his strength. We have no better example here in the church than that of Raymond. In the nine-plus years I’ve known Raymond he’s had several physical problems, but not one of them was due to his sitting around doing nothing. When he was 88, he hurt his back lifting his lawn mower in and out of his car. He insisted on mowing his lawn every week plus a friend’s. His most recent problem, an infection in his leg, came when we stepped on a stick while jogging. More than once his doctor has told him to stop exercising so hard. Until this last problem Raymond was out calling on the sick and shut-in every Tuesday morning. Raymond hasn’t given up as he has grown older, he worked harder. That’s the attitude we all need.
A man went to Canada to fish. He arrived at his cabin late and wanted to be on the water at daylight. He launched his boat and secured it to the dock. He put in his equipment. He wanted to be ready to go as soon as it was light. He then went to bed. When he awoke and went to his boat, it had sunk. He had neglected one thing: a drain plug.
When your boat is on the bottom, it is little comfort to know it only had one hole in it. But one hole is all it takes. All it takes to sink a boat – all it takes to stop a life – is a little neglect, a little slothfulness. What is the answer to slothfulness? If we find ourselves in a spiritual lethargy, what do we do?
Like with any sin, the place to start is with confession. We can’t go any further in dealing with our sin until we admit to ourselves and God that we have sinned. As long as we deny it or try to cover it up it won’t get any better.
The second step is to repent. This sin is different. Of the seven deadly sins, this is the only sin of omission. With the other six we are guilty when we do something. With slothfulness we are guilty when we do nothing. So, to repent of slothfulness is not to stop doing something but to stop doing nothing and to start doing something. What do we need to start doing?
Jesus’ recommendation for the church of Ephesus was to remember their first love.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. (Revelation 2:4-5)
To repent of slothfulness, we must rekindle our love for God. It is easy for us to allow our love for God to grow cold. We neglect it when we put off Bible reading or when we leave little time for prayer. Can we say with the psalmist:
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:1-2)
If you have lost your passion for life, renew it by rekindling your love for God.
To repent of slothfulness, we must also rekindle our love for others. That is one of the first things to go when we slide into the lifestyle of the sloth, we lose our love for others.
When God called Abraham and told Abraham that God would make him a great nation, God also told Abraham that God would bless him so that he would be a blessing. Blessings are never meant to stop with us. Blessings are intended to flow through us.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians that they were saved by grace through faith, not by works, but for good works. Many in Thessalonica misunderstood why God had shed God’s grace and love upon them and gathered them into God’s family. They thought it was because God wanted to save them and have them go to heaven when they died. God had moved in their lives, just like God moves in our lives, for greater reasons than our personal salvation. God touches us so that we can be God’s shining lights in the world, salt to the earth, and witnesses of God’s love and glory. Realize that God’s blessings are not just for us.
In a scene from the end times found in Matthew 25, Christians are judged by what they have done with their blessings from God and how they have been a blessing to other, ministering to those in need. Slothfulness is not limited to idleness. Slothfulness is a lifestyle that prevents us from using our gifts and talents to accomplish God’s will in our lives.
The opposite of the sin of laziness is the virtue of diligence and service. Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again from the dead not so that we could be lazy and not worry about things physical and spiritual, but so that we could serve. We are able to take several steps that lead us away from laziness and toward an abundant life of service.
Take time to discover your gifts, talents and passions. What has God made you good at doing.
Discern what area of ministry God is calling you to.
Learn to say “No.” Keeping busy is not the antidote for laziness; purposeful living is. Say no to those things that prevent you from doing the best.
Find out the things of life in which you find rest, refreshment and renewal. Even God took a day off after creating the world. We need a day of rest. But make sure it’s rest and not simply a waste of time.
Several years ago, Eugene Ormandy was directing the Philadelphia Orchestra. During the performance, Ormandy dislocated his shoulder. How would you like to explain that to a doctor? “How did you dislocate your shoulder?” “Well, I was trying to que the piccolos and I got a little carried away.” There’s something in that story for us. Have you ever dislocated anything because you were so passionate about it? So excited about it? So zealous for it?
Weeds and thorns are natural to the soil. You can work up a piece of ground, dig out all the rocks, chop out all the roots, till it and level it and have it ready for planting vegetables or flowers. But it isn’t long before weeds start to show their ugly heads again. Keeping the weeds out is a constant battle. But when the flowers bloom or when the crops come in, we realize it was well worth the effort.
Once apathy and indifference take root in a life or in a church, it can be very difficult to root it up and get it out. Is it worth the effort? Oh yeah. It’s worth it to see what God can do through a life and through a congregation that is sold out for him.
Have you become apathetic, indifferent, lukewarm? No one knows but you and God because only you and God know your heart.
To the church of Sardis Jesus says,
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation 3:2-3)