Christian Living

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Sloth—Deadly Sin?
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson

Read: Proverbs 26:13-28

As the door turns on its hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed

Proverbs 26:14 (NIV)

During a May, 2004 Thursday evening group counseling session Jerry Moore, 16; Donna Jorski, 16; Liz Cordero, 15; and Francisco Mendoza, 16 were trying to remember the Seven Deadly Sins—that list of transgressions defined then handed down as church doctrine since the twelfth century AD. Since no one in the group, including this counselor, could remember all seven, we as a group looked them up and found them to be the following: Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Anger and Sloth.

“Sloth. What’s sloth?” asked Liz Cordero.

“Isn’t that a big fat animal?” giggled Donna Jorski.

“Doesn’t that have something to do with laziness? That is, just sitting around eating popped corn and watching football or basketball!” Francisco Mendoza wondered out loud.

“Maybe.” Responded Jerry Moore. “What do you think Doc?”

I found myself thinking about the meaning of sloth as well. In response to the group’s query. “I remembered sloth to be laziness or just a lack of physical activity. If I avoided exertion, dodged exercise, refused to do the work my employer asked of me than I was a slothful person. I'll do some research on the matter and get back with the group.”

Everyone agreed.

Then I recalled the medieval poet and writer Dante who included sloth in the deadliest category or levels of hell. Therefore, I thought sloth must be a great deal more than just laziness. Six hours of internet and library searches uncovered sloth to be: “The sin which believes in nothing, cares for nothing, finds purpose in nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing it would die for— relativity would be a fair term for many of my fellow movers and shakers today.

And now I realized that “sloth” is indifference. That indifference is a slothful sin. When the group met again, I made my report to the teens. Each member, myself included pledge to be more alert to it from now on. We decided as a group that to avoid sloth means to stay alive in Godly spirit, to be sensitive to others, be in the world but not of the world, participate in society with honesty and integrity, be committed to our Christian values to be involved in the culture but not of it, not be afraid to state them and live our Christian principles daily and living by God’s Holy Word. In other words, we care—the direct opposite of indifference.

The group and I learned that sloth is truly a deadly sin, especially when we practice it among those whom we love; reveal nothing of God’s love to the lost and hurting among us.

Prayer: Lord, I care.

Thought for the Day: Be in the world, not of the world

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