Laziness is Wickedness: Don't Be Idle!

Hello readers, it’s good to write to you once again. This week, we’re in 2 Thessalonians 3, the last chapter of this book. The Apostle Paul made an interesting shift in his encouragement towards the believers. Beginning at Verse 10, Paul wrote,

“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).

Apparently, there were some believers in Thessalonica who were idle– some folks who were in short, lazy. It appears there were some people busying themselves with things that had nothing to do with what they should have been doing. I imagine they may’ve been gossiping and possibly meddling in other folks’ business while neglecting to take care of the things that God called them to tend to.

Now, on a surface level, idleness may not seem to be that big of a deal. But when we examine the subject of laziness and idleness, we see that God has never approved those with slack hands. Of course, we have what Paul stated here– that if a man does not work, he should not eat. But there are several other scriptures that speak against idleness.

In the Book of Proverbs, there are many verses about idleness. Proverbs 6:6 states, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise.” Proverbs 10:5 reads, “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.” Proverbs 13:4 states, “the soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” Nothing about idleness was celebrated in Proverbs. It only results in nothingness, shame, and foolishness.

I thought about what happened to King David. This was brought to my attention more than once by a few people. Remember how David slept with Bathsheba and had her husband, Uriah, killed in battle? Well, according to the text, if David would have been where kings were supposed to be at this time, he wouldn’t have been tempted to do evil.

2 Samuel 11:1 reads, “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants … but David remained at Jerusalem.” David sent his people to battle, but he stayed back and saw Bathsheba bathing on the roof. And down he fell into temptation.

Now, I can’t say if David was being completely idle or not, but he wasn’t where he was supposed to be. And when we are not where we are supposed to be or doing what we are supposed to do, it leaves the door open for temptation to slide through the entrance.

But idleness is not only an open window for temptation, it can be deemed downright evil. In Matthew 25, Jesus gives the parable of the three servants. Each servant was given gold, and it was their responsibility to tend to the gold given to them. But for the one servant who buried his gold, his master said to him, “You wicked and lazy servant …” (vs.26).

Wicked. The servant was considered wicked for not tending to what his master called him to. Being lazy or idle is much deeper than what we think. It is also a foolish presumption that we will have time to complete our responsibilities at a later time.

Usually, when we put things off, it’s because we believe we will live to complete them… but who’s to say the time will be given?

This past Saturday, we buried a friend of ours. It was unexpected, and was a blow to our circle. And I can 100% guarantee that he did not expect to leave this earth this year. I know he believed he had time to do more things. But God called him to rest.

We cannot assume that we have time to complete the tasks and responsibilities given to us. Being idle is a waste of the time God graced us with. It’s neglectful, and as Jesus said, it is wicked.

Nowhere in the Bible is idleness praised. Rather, those who work and are diligent are acknowledged for their steadfast devotion. The Proverbs 31 woman was praised for “not eating the bread of idleness” (Proverbs 31:27), meaning she worked and was called blessed for how she worked. Paul often mentioned how he and his fellow workers in the gospel worked for a living, and even Jesus Himself worked as a carpenter.

We are not called to be lazy or idle. We are called to work and to do so for the glory of the Lord, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17). If it is wicked and evil to be idle, then it must be good and pure to work.

Of course, idleness is not to be confused with rest. Rest from labor was both commanded and illustrated by God when He rested on the 7th day. Yet, let’s be aware that God worked more days than He rested … we should follow His example.

Lastly, I’d just like to point out the fact that work isn’t given to us just as something to do to pass the time. Work can be a form of enjoyment. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrote, “Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor.” (Ecclesiastes 2:24). It is good to work and to receive compensation for our work so that we can enjoy the small amount of time we have here on earth.

Work was meant to fill our time from boredom, temptation, and idleness. Work is something God has given us and it should not be frowned upon … even before sin entered the world, Adam was instructed to till the garden. Work is a good thing, it existed before the world was corrupted. No, God never intended work to be strenuous, but work for His people was always a part of God’s plan.

So, work, reader! Do as God has planned for your life. If you are working somewhere that you hate, I understand… I OVERstand.

If that is your current situation, may God bless you with a pleasant place of work soon. But most importantly, may we all seek God’s guidance on the work He has ordained for us in His Kingdom.

Because ultimately, any work that we do on earth will soon fade away and the only work that will matter is what we did for the Lord.

That’s all I have for you today. I pray this message has blessed you and may God keep you. Until next time, take care.

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Quin Arrington