Is laziness a sin?

Ezekiel 16:49Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.

1 Timothy 5:8Those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

Laziness is considered one of the “seven deadly sins” but is often overlooked as sin. We tend to think of sin as doing something we shouldn’t; but sin is also neglecting to do what we should. Laziness is a sin because it wastes our God-given talents and ability to work; it wastes the time God has given us on earth; it wastes opportunities to serve God and others.

2 Thessalonians 3:11We hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.

1 Timothy 5:13If [younger widows who have a way of providing for themselves] are on the list [for food distribution], they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t.

Those who are lazy often selfishly expect others to provide for them, and the idle time laziness creates opens the door to temptation.

Matthew 6:20“Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”

Matthew 25:14-21, 24-27“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ . . . “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’”

Laziness not only affects our finances, but it also hinders our service to God. Each person has been entrusted with things of value including time, relationships, talents, opportunities, money, and responsibilities. The effort we invest in stewarding these gifts has eternal impact. We can hardly imagine the heavenly reward of a faithful life—or the disappointment of a life of laziness.

Genesis 2:2-3On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

Deuteronomy 5:12-14“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys and other livestock, and any foreigners living among you. All your male and female servants must rest as you do.”

Mark 6:31Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.

While rest is given by God for our benefit, laziness is a sin. Someday we will be asked to give an account for how we spent our time on earth. God has made ample provision for us to get the rest we need, but there is no excuse for laziness.