Lazy Christian is an Oxymoron
Christians should never be classified as lazy people. Our God is a God of excellence, who models purpose and stewardship for His people from His majestic creation of the world in Genesis 1, to the glorious restoration of a New Eden in Revelation 22.
The trouble with such a dogmatic word — “never” — is that we are sinners who miss the mark of God’s perfect standard at many moments in our fallen state. We are saints who sin. We are progressing in sanctification but still far from perfect. Therefore, we must consider ourselves in need of this reminder: laziness, while tempting and common to all, should be hated and resisted at all costs for the Christian.
Laziness is your enemy.
The Sin of Sloth
The book of Proverbs has much to say on laziness, identifying what has been historically called the sin of “sloth” by describing the sluggard who is always craving, talking, and dreaming with his mouth and mind, but is mostly procrastinating, slacking, wasting, or slumbering with their hands and feet. Several passages paint a vivid picture of the slacker of all slackers:
Proverbs 13:4 – He craves but gets nothing because he’s not diligent
Proverbs 19:15 – He is sleeping when he should be working
Proverbs 21:25 – He has strong desires but lazy hands
Proverbs 24:30-34 – He doesn’t clue into the need for hard work or doing the hard things
Proverbs 6:6-8 – He is a bad planner, always behind the curve of what season is upon him
Proverbs 22:13 – He makes excuses and blames other factors for his own laziness
Proverbs 20:4 – When it’s time to grind, he’s a no-show. When it’s harvest time, he has nothing!
Proverbs 26:16 – He thinks he’s smarter than everyone else and blind to his laziness
Proverbs 26:14 – He is annoying to all around him because his laziness negatively impacts others
You don’t need to be a Hebrew scholar to surmise what God wants us to understand about laziness. But that’s just the poetic genre of Proverbs. The New Testament is all about grace, and laziness is overlooked is it not? Not even close.
Matthew 25:26 – In Christ’s teachings, a lazy steward is judged harshly
Colossians 3:23 – Work at whatever you do with all your heart, as unto the Lord
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 – If someone is not willing to work, he doesn’t eat. Stop being idle
Ephesians 4:28 – Do honest work
Colossians 1:28-29 – Paul’s example in ministry is an example to all workers to work hard
Defining the Sin of Sloth
Augustine defined sloth as, “The refusal to respond to our opportunities for growth, service, or sacrifice.” Robert Mangis defines sloth as, “The antithesis of worship. Sloth is the neglect of the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” I would define it simply as: “The sin of not doing the thing I ought to do in any given situation.” Sloth and laziness are scrolling Instagram when you should be working. Sloth and laziness are making excuses when you should be making things happen. Sloth and laziness are blaming others instead of taking responsibility. Sloth and laziness are letting distractions, fears, and anxieties keep you from sitting down making a plan and putting your hands on the plow. Sloth and laziness hate you and your effectiveness for the glory of God! They are lures that taunt you to nestle into the bosom of their pleasures, only to trap you in destructive patterns of idleness. Sloth and laziness hate your physical, spiritual, and mental health.
John Wesley was widely known as a very hard-working preacher during the 1700s and has long been remembered for his fervency in evangelism. It was he who said, “Be active, be diligent; avoid all laziness, sloth, indolence. Fly from every degree, every appearance of it; else you will never be more than half a Christian.” Wesley’s point was that the lazy Christian is leaving far too much energy untapped and that their life of faith was like a gas tank with so much more to burn if they would only step on the gas. We are half the Christian we could be in our effectiveness and opportunities when we let laziness run the show.
A lazy Christian is an oxymoron because laziness is antithetical to gospel living. Laziness neglects the most important aspects of physical, mental, and spiritual care. We have been given a body to use for the glory of God, laziness erodes it. We have been given a mind to use for the glory of God, laziness pollutes it. We have been given a new life in Christ that is purposed to glorify God, laziness hinders it. Fighting laziness for the Christian is not merely about being more effective in your work and life management, it is about glorifying God with all that He has given you to steward.
Diagnostic Questions Every Christian Should Ask
There are an inexhaustible number of nuances that can rightly excuse those who are less productive or effective in certain ways. For example, disabilities and bodily sickness, natural disasters, economic hardships, and even past sins far removed from your new life in Christ (like a criminal record) can make you feel a sense of false guilt for your lack of work opportunities or output. If this is you, be slow to self-indict, my dear Christian brother or sister. You are not lazy. You are enduring. You are only required to be faithful with what you have been given.
For the majority of Christians, our excuses are less than acceptable. They are pitiful attempts to justify our slothfulness. Why don’t we just confess it and move forward? Unfortunately, your heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9) so denial might be your first instinct. Take some time to ask the following questions of yourself, and include a husband, wife, or friend who will be honest with you. Compare your answers, reflect, pray, and put your hands to the plow with a renewed sense of God’s calling on your life to work hard at whatever you do.
Do I scroll social media when I should be working? Or is my social media use healthy in relation to use for work, family relationships, church, and friendships?
Am I currently behind on projects or tasks because of my inclination to procrastinate? How long have these items been on my to-do list and what is holding me back from doing them?
What goals have I not achieved in the past 3 months? Have there been any cases in which I blamed others or avoided taking full responsibility for these?
Do I overuse my freedoms provided by work such as expense accounts, working from home/remotely, or trustworthy supervisors?
When confronted about my lack of productivity by a boss or someone else, do I react with excuses, or do I take ownership?
What correlation is there between my witness, integrity, and work ethic?
Is it possible that I am a lazy person either covertly or overtly? If so, how?
Recommended Resources
Several key resources will prove helpful on the subject of work and productivity for the glory of God.
Reagan Rose’s recent title, “Redeeming Productivity” is an excellent book. It’s also short, practical, and easy to apply to your life.
Daniel M. Doriani’s book, “Work: Its Purpose, Dignity, and Transformation” unpacks a theology of work and will help you understand everything you need to know about work and why you should work hard at whatever you do.
Tim Challies’ book, “Do More Better” has been a go-to for years on this topic. Tim explains workflow, organization, and self-discipline, and shows you how to be excellent in areas of productivity and planning for the glory of God.
