Proverbs on Work and Laziness

Primary Text:

Proverbs 6:6-11 - “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. [7] Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, [8] she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. [9] How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? [10] A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, [11] and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

Principles for Work

• The Bible teaches that we were created with purpose, which includes work. (Genesis 1:26-31)
• “Work, like every other part of creation, was designed to bring God glory.” p. 45, Art Rainer
  • “Work was a pre-fall idea. When everything was good, before there was sin, there was work: ‘The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it’ (Gen. 2:15). He provided humans the world in its raw form and said, ‘go to work. Use your talents and skills. Do something with this.’” p. 45, Art Rainer
• Laziness is a character quality that should be repented of, corrected, and replaced by diligence.
• Jesus redeems our work lives and intends for us to labor as though we were working for and serving Him. (Colossians 3:23-24)
• “When I __________, I feel God’s pleasure.” Mandy Pallock article

Key Background Texts:

Genesis 1:26-31 - [26] Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. [28] And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” [29] And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. [30] And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. [31] And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

Genesis 3:17-19 - [17] And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; [18] thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. [19] By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Colossians 3:17 - “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:23-24 - “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 - “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14 - “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 - “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. [7] For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, [8] nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. [9] It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. [10] For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. [11] For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. [12] Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. [13] As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. [14] If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. [15] Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”

1 Timothy 5:8 - “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Proverbs on diligence:

Proverbs 6:6-11 - “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. [7] Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, [8] she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. [9] How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? [10] A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, [11] and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

Proverbs 12:11 - “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.”

Proverbs 13:4 - “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”

Proverbs 14:23 - “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”

Proverbs 21:5 - “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”

Proverbs 31:13-27 - [13] She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. [14] She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. [15] She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. [16] She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. [17] She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. [18] She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. [19] She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. [20] She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. [21] She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. [22] She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. [23] Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. [24] She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. [25] Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. [26] She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. [27] She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 10:4 - “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

Proverbs 24:27 - “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.”

Proverbs 12:11 - “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” [or “chases fantasies”]

Proverbs 28:19 - “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.” [or “chases fantasies”]

Proverbs 12:24 - “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”

Proverbs on laziness

Proverbs 20:4 - “The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.”

Proverbs 24:30-34 - “I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, [31] and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. [32] Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. [33] A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, [34] and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

Proverbs 20:13 - “Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.”

Proverbs 12:27 - “Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.”

Proverbs 12:11 - “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” [or “he who chases fantasies”]

Proverbs 28:19 - “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.” [or “he who chases fantasies”]

Resources used:

• “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Proverbs” pages 270-276, commentary by Daniel L. Akin and Jonathan Akin

• “Find More Money” chapter 3: “God’s Purpose for Money” and chapter 4: “God’s Purpose for Work” by Art Rainer

• “Feeling God’s Pleasure” article by Mandy Pallock, published at www.lifepurposeplanning.org