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The Poison of Sloth

The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.  Proverbs 21:25

 

Webster defines sloth as "a disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness, laziness, idleness." In theological contexts, sloth carries with it not only the idea of laziness in spiritual things, but also apathy and inactivity in the practice of our everyday lives.

The slothful person is like a piece of driftwood floating effortlessly and heedlessly downstream with the current. It takes no effort, no strength to be lost. A drifting boat always goes downstream, never up. Likewise, a drifting, sothful soul is inevitably moving toward an eternity of destruction.

The sin of doing nothing--the sin of omission--is just as dangerous as any sin of action--of commission. You don't have to do anything to be lost; just do nothing. Just be slothful about your soul. Tragically, thousands of us Christians are slothful when it comes to prayer, worship, reading the Bible, witnessing for Christ, helping neighbors in need, or giving to charity.

A stubborn, slothful spirit is a great hindrance to receivivng Jesus' forgiveness and transforming power. Don't let it overcome you.

From, HOPE for Each Day: Morning & Evening Devotions, by Billy Graham.