Idleness and Sloth

• Forbidden.

  Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

  Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

• Produce apathy.

  Proverbs 12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

  Proverbs 26:15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

• Akin to extravagance.

  Proverbs 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

• Accompanied by conceit.

  Proverbs 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

• LEAD TO
• Poverty.

  Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

  Proverbs 20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

• Want.

  Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

  Proverbs 24:34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

• Hunger.

  Proverbs 19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

  Proverbs 24:34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

• Bondage.

  Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

• Disappointment.

  Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

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

• Ruin.

  Proverbs 24:30-31 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.

• Tattling and meddling.

  1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

• Effects of, afford instruction to others.

  Proverbs 24:30-32 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.

• Remonstrance against.

  Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

  Proverbs 6:9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

• False excuses for.

  Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

  Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

• Illustrated.

  Proverbs 26:14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

  Matthew 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

  Matthew 25:26 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:

• Exemplified.
  
  Watchmen,

  Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

  Athenians,

  Acts 17:21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

  Thessalonians,

  2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.