Ice Age is one of my favorite movies of all time. One of my favorite characters (next to the squirrel) is Sid the Sloth 🦥 . His naivety and cluelessness to everything going on around him adds to his innocence of life. One of my favorite quotes from him is “it’s not about how slow you go, it’s about how you go slow with style”. The Bible takes a different view of being slothful or lazy.
There is a difference between needing rest and time to relax versus being slothful or lazy. Rest is a natural and necessary part of life, but laziness in Scripture is typically described as the avoidance of necessary work or the deliberate refusal to fulfill one’s responsibilities.
Proverbs 6:9-11 gives a warning against laziness: “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”
Here, the bible contrasts laziness with consequences such as poverty and misfortune, portraying laziness as a gateway to ruin.
The Bible also speaks of laziness as a failure to recognize the value of time and the importance of work in a person’s spiritual and moral development. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, Paul writes, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” This highlights the idea that work is not only a necessity for survival but also an integral part of living out God’s will. To refuse to work is to reject the responsibility that God has placed upon individuals to care for themselves and contribute to the community.
What are the dangers of laziness?
Proverbs 24:30-34 “I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.” This image of a neglected field illustrates how laziness leads to decay, not only in material possessions but in character and spiritual life. Just as a field left untended will become overrun with weeds, a life left without discipline and diligence can become spiritually barren.
What are we to do? Have a call to diligence. The Bible does not simply warn against laziness but offers positive examples of diligence and hard work. Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” This verse emphasizes that work is not just for material gain or personal advancement, but it is an act of service to God. Proverbs 12:11 reminds us that “those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.” Here, work is equated with wisdom and fruitfulness, while laziness is associated with foolishness and emptiness.
While the Bible emphasizes the dangers of laziness and the importance of work, it also acknowledges the need for rest. Genesis 2:2-3 reveals that after God created the world He rested on the seventh day, setting an example for humanity. The Sabbath, or day of rest, is a
commandment in the Old Testament, not only for physical rejuvenation but also for spiritual renewal. Jesus, too, acknowledged the need for rest when He invited His followers to come to Him for rest. Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The Bible teaches that there is a proper balance between work and rest. Laziness, however, is the absence of work, while rest is a planned and necessary pause to recharge and regain strength for the tasks at hand. The other half of that balance is to not go so far as to overwork yourself or become a workaholic. I have been on that side of life and it leads to destruction. Although, at the time I really thought I was providing for my family, I was really driving a wedge between myself and Cherri. It was a very hard lesson to learn. Creating a balance between work and life is as essential as it is to not be lazy in life.
While rest is important, laziness is condemned because it undermines personal growth, prosperity, and, most importantly, our relationship with God. The Bible teaches that through diligent work, we can honor God, fulfill our responsibilities, and experience the blessings He has
promised. So, be like Sid the Sloth occasionally and "go slow with style 🦥" but then get back to the work God has ordained for you.
Things to think about:
Have you become a sloth in your work life?
Have you become a sloth in your family life?
Have you become a sloth in your spiritual life?
If you have, what actions are you going to take to counteract being slothful?
Written By: Jeff Abner
