“Slothfulness”
Don’t you find it
strange that so many seem to believe that there is nothing for them to do as
members of the Lord’s body? Why is it that so many think all they have to do to
be a Christian is to get wet? Although this is the only way one can get “into
Christ”: (Gal.
3:27) there is more to
being a faithful Christian than just getting wet! It
is indeed a sad situation once one has put on Christ they think they have it
made and all that is left for them to do is to sit back and wait for the
judgment! The apostle Paul wrote that we are to “serve the Lord”: (Rom 12:11) “Not
slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” If only we would take this commandment seriously I expect
we would be busy building larger buildings.
Can we expect God to
reward us for being “slothful”? Allow
the Hebrew writer to answer: (Heb 6:12) “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith
and patience inherit the promises.” The advice given here is that we be
“followers of them who are faithful”. Although they were to be patient it does
not mean that they were sitting back and were doing nothing but waiting. We
need to take note of the fact that we are to be followers of the “faithful”. It would take a misguided imagination to think that the faithful
were “slothful”. Who is it that will “inherit the promises”? Would it not be
those who are “faithful” in keeping the Lord’s commandments? Although Jesus has
given us many commandments I will only mention one: (Matt 28:19) “Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost:” Brethren
until we have taught all our families and all our neighbors we cannot be
“slothful” in our going in an effort to teach. All too often we think that our
doors are wide open to the world to come and hear the gospel we have fulfilled
our duty to go and teach. If we follow the example of the faithful early
Christian we will see that they went and taught daily [this is true because it
is stated that the Lord added to the church daily (Acts 2:47)]. Sunday morning,
Sunday evening and Wednesday evening is not enough. Let us not be slothful when
it comes to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Slothfulness” might even be
compared to extravagance: (Prov 18:9)
“He also that is slothful in his work
is brother to him that is a great waster.” The Lord has given us
work to do [go teach]; if we are not doing this we are “great wasters” of our time. If we are honest
with ourselves we will have to admit that we have let opportunities slip by us
to teach the truth. All too often when the subject of religion comes up in a
conversation we have been guilty of changing the subject; that is being
slothful!
Are you aware that “slothfulness”
will lead to hunger? (Prov 19:15) “Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul
shall suffer hunger.” If you are lazy and will not work it is very likely that you will
become hungry. Spiritually speaking if you are “slothful” you will also become
hungry for “righteousness”. Jesus said in
In the book of
Proverbs we find a very sad statement concerning the “slothful”: (Prov. 24:30 – 31) “I
went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of
understanding; 31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face
thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.” If we are lazy and “slothful” can we expect any better fate than
those of old? Has God changed His mind about the “slothful”? If your “stone
wall” of defense against Satan has begun to crumble could it be that you have
become “slothful”? Let us be busy doing what Jesus Christ has commanded us to
do!
-Bud