OceanSide church of Christ

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THE TIMIDITY OF SLOTH:

“I’m Afraid” or, “I Can’t Do It

Victor M. Eskew

 

            When we think of a sloth, we usually think of an animal, a very slow moving animal, that is found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.  Did you know that there is a breed of humans that can be classified as sloths?  In the Bible, the subject of slothfulness is mentioned specially in fifteen verses.  In both the Old and New Testaments, the words translated “slothful” carry the definition of “indolent.”  The term “indolent” is defined as “having a disposition to avoid exertion.”  A word that we often use as a synonym for slothful is “lazy.”

            There are many reasons individuals manifest the characteristic of slothfulness.  One of the reasons people become sloths is due to timidity or fear.  The wise writer of Proverbs notes this cause of slothfulness in Proverbs 22:13.  He writes:  “The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.”  A similar verse is found in Proverbs 26:13.  “The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.”  Notice that the man is afraid of a lion being in the streets.  His fear keeps him from doing the things that really need to be done. 

            There are two ways to approach the timidity of the sloth.  First, perhaps there is a lion in the streets.  In other words, there may real problems and difficulties that lie in the path of the individual.  Is reneging on his duty, the answer to the problem?  Absolutely not!  The sloth needs to develop two primary qualities in his life if he is going to overcome his slothfulness.  First, he must develop his faith in God.  As Christians, Jesus has promised to always be with us.  “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5b).  Through Him, we can do all things if we manifest faith in Him.  Paul was very clear about this in Philippians 4:13.  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheth me.”  David was confronted by a lion, a bear, and a giant of man named Goliath.  Did he allow these things to deter him?  No!  He moved forward with faith and overcame the obstacles.  What he said to King Saul needs to be on the lips of every faithful child of God.  “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear:  and this Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.  David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…” (I Sam. 17:36-37).  When we have this kind of faith, there is no lion that will paralyze us.  There is no challenge that will cause us to lie in our beds with the doors shut.

            The second quality the sloth needs to develop is courage.  To have courage involves having heart.  Those who possess courage have chosen to do so deep within the heart.  Courage is not the absence of fear.  Courage is the determination to move forward in the face of fear.  Because courage involves a personal decision, it is commanded in the Scriptures.  Joshua took on a huge burden after the death of Moses.  He had to lead the armies of Israel into the Land of Promise and defeat the evil Canaanite nations.  His position required courage.  Three times the Lord exhorted Joshua to “be strong and of a good courage” when He commissioned this noble leader to go over the Jordan (Josh. 1:6, 7, 9).  The sloth must decide that he will manifest the courage to overcome the lion.  In other words, he makes up his mind determining that nothing will hinder him in fulfilling his obligations to his Lord.

            The second approach that can be considered regarding the sloth is that he uses fear as an excuse.  He makes up the notion that there is a lion in the streets.  The probability of a lion being there is extremely slim, but it sounds like a good excuse in his mind.  How many times do slothful people make excuses for their irresponsibility?  The things they imagine in their minds that they believe are reasons for not doing something are not really real.  They have simply invented a lion because they do not want to exert the energy needed to do the things that God requires of them.  If they would spend as much time mustering the faith and courage needed to act as they do in making excuses, they would be phenomenal servants of the Lord.

            The Lord exhorts us not to be slothful.  “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11).  And again:  “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:12).  Therefore, we must give up our excuses.  Too, we must develop the attributes of faith and courage.  Instead of sluggish servants, we need to be fervent followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.