“6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man” (Proverbs 6:6-11).

     Laziness is a major symptom of selfishness. Laziness manifests a perverted way of thinking that views work as merely a means to get the things wanted for self-satisfaction. That is not God’s central definition of a Biblical work ethic. In fact, God’s primary purpose in defining a Biblical work ethic is intent upon escaping the satanic seed of selfishness within us all. When we get God’s primary view of the world with a Biblical work ethic, it will completely change how we view why we work in the first place.

“22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:22-28).

     What is the primary motivation for work according to this text? The primary motivation of a Biblical work ethic is to have something to give. In other words, the primary definition of a Biblical work ethic is the spiritual motivation to be able to meet the needs of others, rather than our own needs. Now, that is a work ethic that is held only by those filled with the Spirit of God because it is an attitude that is the springboard for Biblical love (sacrificially giving ourselves away to the glory of God). This is a work ethic view that can only exist in the absence of selfishness. For this type of person with this Biblical work ethic, life work will be done with the expectation of glorifying God by revealing His love lived out through the believers life by sacrificially giving to see souls won to Christ and to sees disciples of Jesus Christ produced.

     Life is a precious gift of God that is given to us in increments of seconds, minutes and hours. How we use the gift of those seconds, minutes and hours should be carefully evaluated. Yes, God allows some of our time to be used for pleasure as long as that pleasure is not found in the “pleasures of sin.” Good stewards of God’s gift of time understand that a major portion of our seconds, minutes and hours are to be given to God in loving sacrificial service through the “work of the ministry” intent upon bringing souls to Christ and upon making disciples.

     Laziness is a time thief. Laziness is a time waster. Laziness is preoccupied with sleeping, eating and recreation. In the OT, this consumption of life through excess of sleeping, eating, drinking, and pleasure seeking was called gluttony. Gluttony was not merely eating to much. Gluttony was descriptive of a lifestyle of consumption for selfish purposes. Gluttony described a wide diversity of lifestyle practices of opulence and riotous living, partying, and self-indulgence. Uniquely, OT parents could have a son put to death for such a disgraceful, selfish lifestyle.

“18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear” (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).

     A lifestyle of laziness and self-absorption is one of the worse kinds of selfishness. Laziness is a manifestation of lifestyle view of things that is extremely worldly and ego-centric. Laziness is one thing God has little tolerance for and to which Gods says a person with such a lifestyle is worse than an “infidel.”

“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (I Timothy 5:8).

     Obviously, this is a serious issue before God. God does not want the local church to be tolerant in any way towards the “sluggard.” According to I Timothy 5:8, the “sluggard” is to be viewed as a person who has “denied the faith.” In other words, the “sluggard” is to be viewed and treated as a person living in heresy. He is, in every practical way, to be viewed as a Christ denier. Therefore, the “sluggard” is comparatively “worse than an infidel.”

     The word “infidel” is from the Greek word apistos (ap'-is-tos). It can refer to an unbeliever, but it goes beyond that to imply this person is not trustworthy and is unbelievable. I believe the reason this type of person cannot be trusted or believed is because any person who will live in such self-deception about such a contradiction against his own spirituality cannot be trusted to be honest to anyone about anything else in his life. Self-absorption is a like a giant sponge that sucks all the spiritual life out of everything and everyone it comes in contact with for the purpose of selfish consumption. This kind of person views other people as mere vehicles for his own self-gratification. There is a depth to this kind of wicked selfishness that is almost incomprehensible. This person will go to depths of sinful self-degradation beyond imagination to satisfy his longings for self-fulfillment. Ultimately, there will be nothing sacred to this type of person. There will be no relationship or no person he will not be willing to sacrifice to his own self-actualization.

     Laziness is an ugly thing to God. Spiritual Christians will be careful to examine their lives for any hint of laziness. For true believers, laziness should be something we should loathe as much as God loathes it. What is God’s proverbial instruction to the “sluggard” intent upon correcting this ugly and perverse character flaw? Notice that in Proverbs 6:6-11 that God does not merely point His finger of condemnation at the lifestyle of the “sluggard.” He certainly does condemn every aspect of such a lifestyle, but, at the same time, He offers some very practical and simple solutions.

     God’s first instruction is to consider the ways of “the ant.” God tells us that the “sluggard” can find godly wisdom from the lifestyle of “the ant.” Two characteristics of ants are prevalent. Ants are disciplined and organized. These are character traits that must be learned. Take any child who has not been taught self discipline and organization and you will find a life of chaos and self-absorption. A person that cannot get up at a regular hour every morning and go to bed at a reasonable and practical hour has not learned to be self-disciplined or organized.

     Failure to teach children simple things like self discipline and organization will produce sluggards. Children who are not taught to pick up their toys, keep their rooms clean, put their dirty cloths in the hamper, and help with household chores will grow up to be sluggards. Teaching this is one thing. Learning these things in another. Children have not learned self-discipline or organization until they do the things they are supposed to do according to their own initiative. In other words, they do these things because they understand it is their moral responsibility to do them.

     However, the sluggard will never take the initiative to do something he has not been told to do or take the responsibility to share in the work load of a home. Children who are allowed to consume all of their free time on sports, recreation, and entertainment will grow up to be self absorbed sluggards and gluttons. In fact, this is really what defines gluttony. It is a lifestyle of self absorption and consumption.

“19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh {partiers}: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags” (Proverbs 23:19-21).

     Self motivation or personal initiative in the areas of self discipline and organization is what God refers to in Proverbs 6:7-8; “Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” The person with self discipline and organization built into his life does not need someone to be constantly trying to motivate him or chide him into doing what he is supposed to be doing. When it is time to plow and plant, he plows and plants. When it is time to harvest, he harvests. The self disciplined person is organized, responsible, and reliable. The sluggard is none of these things.

     According to God’s Word, the sluggard loves sleep. He just cannot seem to get out of bed. When the time for sleep is wasted on riotous living and pleasure seeking, the time for work will be wasted on sleep. This is due to an undisciplined life without proper priorities. God questions this kind of lifestyle with questions of derision.

“9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man” (Proverbs 6:9-11).

     A sluggard is a man of sloth. The word of God has numerous condemnations against the selfish sin of sloth. The Proverbs alone mention this sin many times.

“30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man” (Proverbs 24:30-34).

The sin of sloth will be one of the sins that will cause the believer loss of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Wasting time in foolishness and laziness is something God will hold all believers accountable for. This is the sin that Christ refers to in the parable of the parable of the servants and the talents in Matthew 25:14-29.

“14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:14-30).