The motto of the lazy man is captured perfectly by Winnie the Pooh in the live-action movie Christopher Robin: “People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”
While habitual sin struggles such as lust, fear, anxiety, conflict, unfaithfulness, or hopelessness may prompt individuals to seek biblical counseling, laziness often accompanies the presenting problem. Laziness may also be the reason the counselee frequently fails to complete the assigned homework. Cloaked as “well-meaning” excuses, laziness is a sin that hinders growth in other areas of life, which is why it is necessary to address it early in the counseling process.
Identifying Laziness
If laziness is not typically the presenting problem that brings someone in for counseling, then we should ask good questions to determine whether laziness is part of their problem. Asking about a typical week, how they are being faithful with spiritual disciplines, how they spend their free time, or how they are serving others in their church gives a glimpse into their lives. A good PDI form can also be a great help here.
As we gather data through asking good questions, the book of Proverbs helps us know what to look for. It addresses idleness by reproving the person who should work but chooses not to. Consider Proverbs 26:14-16: “As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.”
We don’t often use the term “sluggard” today, but it is an apt description of the person who moves through life like a slug. His sluggish lifestyle resists any kind of movement or change. Even lifting his hand out of the candy jar and bringing it to his mouth proves to be too much effort (Proverbs 26:15). His idolatry of comfort and pleasure takes precedence over responsibilities such as work, church, marriage, parenting, and friendship.
When identifying the sin of laziness, it is important to note that Proverbs does not equate laziness with unemployment or disability. A truly unemployed person is someone who wants to work but is unable to find a job. That is different from someone who chooses not to work. A lack of opportunity or ability to work is suffering, not sluggishness.
Characteristics of Laziness
The sluggard is full of excuses. He finds comfort in the most absurd excuses: “The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” (Proverbs 26:13). Laziness relies on habitual excuses to ease a guilty conscience. “Just a little longer, then I’ll do it.” “There is always tomorrow.” “I will be putting myself at risk.” Such excuses keep a person from completing hard tasks, acting in the face of difficult situations, or killing his sin today. Jim Newheiser describes the sluggard’s excuses: “I have often thought that many sluggards, if they worked as hard at a job as they work at avoiding real work, could be wealthy.”11 Newheiser, Jim. (2018). Money, debt, and finances: Critical questions and answers (p. 40). P&R Publishing.
The sluggard loves relaxation. The sluggard will not finish what he starts. His small bursts of motivation don’t last long enough to complete tasks. Solomon observed this and warned, “I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man” (Proverbs 24:30-34).
The sluggard procrastinates. His love for comfort and pleasure leads him to procrastination. He lives only for the present moment and does not have eternity in mind. Proverbs 20:4 describes a lack of work and preparation for the future: “The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.” This lack of planning and effort often leads him to back out of his commitments at the last moment. Employers are constantly frustrated with the sluggard due to his lack of hard work and initiative. He is a burden to anyone who relies on him (Proverbs 10:26). The failure to complete a task often stems from an errant view of stewardship—all that he has received is from God, and he is to use it well for God’s glory and the good of others (1 Corinthians 4:7).
The sluggard puts strain on the community. At his worst, the sluggard becomes dependent on others because he has failed to provide for himself. Paul warned that those who do not work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:11). This may sound harsh at first glance, but I would suggest that it flows from Paul’s love for those who are truly in need, and his desire for the flourishing of the local church. He speaks harshly against laziness because catering to the sluggard puts a strain on the church. A church is like an anthill full of activity. It is busy meeting the needs of widows, sufferers, and the sick. Its energies are poured into the ministries of evangelism, preaching, counseling, and one-anothering. If the church must continually meet the physical needs of someone who refuses to work, its ability to care for the needs of others is diminished. This would also enable the sluggard to remain in his sin. Instead, serving him well would involve loving correction and instruction in godliness.
The sluggard is proud. Ultimately, laziness is a heart issue. Pride rules the heart of the sluggard. He is “wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly” (Proverbs 26:16). He exists at the center of his own universe and manifests an elevated view of self by only doing what he feels like doing. An idolatrous love for himself overrules other God-given responsibilities, thus resulting in a life centered on self. Therefore, he expects others to cater to him or make up for his lack of effort. He does not consider how his actions will affect others. The sluggard rarely considers how to serve others unless he can see some way to benefit from it.
Hope to Put Off Laziness
Humility. If laziness proceeds from a prideful heart, then biblical change begins with repenting of pride and growing in humility. This is the reason for the tone towards the idle from both Solomon and Paul in the pages of Scripture. It is meant to humble the proud. Consider Solomon’s admonition to “observe the ant” as a means of avoiding sluggishness (Proverbs 6:6). It is a humbling activity to stare at an ant as an example of hard work. Mankind, who was created to exercise dominion over creation, has gotten it so backward in sin that he must now look at an insect and learn from it. It requires humility to admit that the ant is worthy of imitation as one who works hard, prepares for the future, doesn’t need continual supervision, and doesn’t come up with excuses not to work.
Selflessness. The fruit of pride is selfishness. Humility manifests in a willingness to consider others as more important than oneself (Philippians 2:3-4). The sluggard expects everyone else to bend to his schedule, desires, and needs. However, as he grows in humility, he will begin to put off selfish ambition and look out for the interests of others. He will consider others before backing out of commitments, knowing that it puts undue pressure on those counting on him. He will progressively reflect the image of Christ, who “did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
Purpose. The goal for every believer is not just busyness, but to glorify God by becoming like Christ. As we consider the work of God in creation and redemption, we see that He acted for the supreme demonstration of His glory and the good of His people. He sovereignly created the world and continues to rule over His creation (Colossians 1:16-17). He is working in salvation, making dead sinners alive through the preaching of the gospel (Ephesians 2:4). The Triune God is at work in His people, sanctifying them and completing what He began in them (Philippians 1:6). Since we are created as His image bearers, we are called to be like Him in every way, including work (Ephesians 5:1). Work is designed before the fall and continues after the fall to display God’s glory, wisdom, and goodness through all that He has given us. This helps us understand the goal of putting off the sin of laziness. The purpose is not just to put in a certain number of hours at work or to check items off a “to-do” list. Instead, the goal is to glorify God by working hard out of our love for Him and others so that we can bless and serve others (Ephesians 4:28). Work is hard, but God assigns dignity and purpose to our work. It provides us with an opportunity to glorify God as we work “heartily, as for the Lord…” (Colossians 3:23).
Conclusion
Laziness is a “common to man” problem (1 Corinthians 10:13). This is both humbling and hope-giving. It humbles us to admit that we are not beyond the reach of laziness. Derek Kidner reminds us, “The wise man will learn while there is time. He knows that the sluggard is no freak, but, as often as not, an ordinary man who has made too many excuses, too many refusals and too many postponements. It has all been as imperceptible, and as pleasant, as falling asleep.”22 Kidner, Derek. (1964). Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 17, p. 40). InterVarsity Press.
We also have hope that no one is beyond God’s power to transform prideful, selfish hearts that lead to a lazy, sluggish life. In Christ, there is hope for lasting change. Christ humbled Himself, becoming a servant and laying down His life for sinners so that we might no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf (Philippians 2:5-8; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15). His humility in considering others more important than Himself not only provides an example to emulate but also liberates us from an idolatrous love of self. The sin of laziness may feel like a cruel slavemaster, but Christ invites all to take His yoke and learn from Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). Serving Christ by working diligently in all that He has entrusted us to do is life-giving and full of joy. May we faithfully demonstrate thanksgiving to our Redeemer by walking in the good works He has prepared for us and pointing our counselees toward a bigger view of God and the glorious Gospel, so that every dimension of life is submitted to and lived for Him (Ephesians 2:10).
