What Does the Bible Say About Laziness?

Proverbs is particularly direct about laziness. 'Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise' (Proverbs 6:6). 'The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat' (Proverbs 13:4). The humorous portraits are pointed: 'The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way' (Proverbs 26:13) — inventing excuses to avoid work. 'As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed' (Proverbs 26:14). Paul was equally firm: 'If any would not work, neither should he eat' (2 Thessalonians 3:10). He modeled hard work, supporting himself as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). Colossians 3:23 commands, 'Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.' Work was established before the fall (Genesis 2:15) — it is part of God's good design. Even in rest, believers are to be purposeful. The Sabbath commands rest, but six days were given for productive labor (Exodus 20:9).