Slothfulness - both physical and spiritual

The Bible condemns slothfulness. Slothfulness can be defined as no desire to work, laziness, complacency, and apathy.

Proverbs 19:15 - "Laziness brings on deep sleep,  and the shiftless go hungry."
Proverbs 21:25 - " The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work."

In these two passages and many other it talks of laziness in the sense of unwilling to work or exert oneself in a given task. God condemns this and speak of the terrible consequences of these slothful actions. Yet, there is a slothfulness which is worse than the physical slothfulness. It is spiritual slothfulness. Society in general condemns laziness in the sense of work or not be diligent in ones task. Yet, society in general does not condemn spiritual slothfulness which I believe in God's eyes is a greater sin and has greater consequences, even eternal consequences.

Hebrews 6:12 - "We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."

Here he is speaking of spiritual slothfulness. Even as Proverbs says that laziness brings on deep sleep, spiritual laziness will bring spiritual sleep. When one falls into a spiritual sleep, he is unaware what God is doing around him. He is unaware what God is doing through others and unaware that God wants to work through him. Spiritual apathy brings spiritual slumber. Often those who have fallen into a spiritual slumber are not even aware that they are a sleep.This is why another believer needs to poke them and say wake up. If they are not woken, they will become entirely weak and unable to arise. A hospital knows that the longer someone is in bed, the harder for them to recover. There is even the possibility of never recovering fully or at all. The end result could be spiritual death.

Hebrews 6:1 says, "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God."

Neglecting fervent prayer and the reading of the Word brings slothfulness. It is as well an indicator of slothfulness. Neglecting coming together as believers will bring spiritual slothfulness as well as an indicator of slothfulness. When our faith is weakened we will fall into spiritual apathy. When we no longer believe 2 Timothy 3:16 - " All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." We become apathetic as believers. We will lose are zeal for the Lord and the things of God.

Colossians 3:23 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

As believers we are to put our whole selves into whatever we do, both in natural work and spiritual work.  We must guard against despair. We must guard our hearts from resentfulness towards others or God. When our hearts become hardened, we become numb and lose our fervor in serving others and God. 

Revelation 3:14-19 warns about being lukewarm. How it is better be cold or hot and how God will reject those who are lukewarm in the church.

The antidote to slothfulness in both the physical realm and spiritual realm is two fold. The first is love.

Matthew 22:37-39 tells us to love God and others. The amount of love we have will determine the amount of commitment we have to God and any task, be spiritual or physical. Our laziness and apathy is a result of our lack of love. When one loves someone, they want to please them and do their best for them. Also, love and faith causes us to be patient and persevere. Love is not dependent on others approval or disapproval, it remains true not matter what. The basis of godly character is love.

The second antidote is the infilling of the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God will produce zeal, passion, faithfulness, godly character and love. There are those who are not lazy and do not have the Spirit because they are motivated by greed, favor, power, and other factors. Yet, this does not change the fact that the love of God and the Spirit of God should be our motivating factor.

Romans 12:12-10-12 - "
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."