Text: Romans 6:11-14
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.


I. Traits of a Lazy Person
A. Slothful
Romans 12:11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (KJV)

1. Lesson from Nature: The Sloth
(See pic of sloth at http://library.thinkquest.org/27507/sloth.htm.)

Slothful? What does slothful mean? The word “slothful” gets its name from a small animal native to the tropics of South America called a “sloth.” The small animal hangs upside down from trees. During the day it hangs in a little ball and at night it feeds on the nearby leaves. It appears to be totally motionless. In comparison, the turtle is very fast.

Sloths appear to be fairly gentle creatures when being handled and give the impression of being half-asleep. However, they have sharp claws which can hurt.

The sloth’s body is from 24-27 inches long and they weigh about 10 pounds. They look bigger because of their thick fur which is rough and green in color, due to a thin coating of algae which grows on them during wet seasons.

Can you imagine being that lazy? The sloth moves so slowly and so rarely, that algae grows in its fur.

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

B. Destroys or Wastes Resources
Prov. 18:9
One who is slack (slothful) in his work is brother to one who destroys.
1. Laziness is as bad as wasting resources or destroying property.

C. Refuses to Help Himself
Prov. 19:24
The sluggard (slothful) buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!
1. The lazy person does not have the heart of a servant. He finds ways for other people to do everything for him. He has a knack for “dumping” his responsibilities onto others.

D. He Loves to Sleep
Prov. 20:13
Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

1. “It’s Hard Work” skit from Let Us Teach Kids, "Roundup the Sin Gang" (letusteachkids.com).

2. “Go to the Ant, You Sluggard” monologue from Let Us Teach Kids, "Roundup the Sin Gang" (letusteachkids.com).

(See pic of ant at http://www.journey-to-the-high-places.blogspot.com/.)

Prov. 6:6-9
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

3. We are not to imitate the lazy sloth. Our goal is to be as the industrious ant laboring to meet our needs and to have excess to be able to share with others.

E. Refuses to Work
Prov. 20:4
A sluggard does not plough in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.


II. Results of Laziness
A. Poverty
Prov. 6:10-11
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--
and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

B. Hunger
Prov. 19:15
Laziness (slothfulness) brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless (idle) man goes hungry.
1. Shiftless (idle) -- The Hebrew word indicates deceit and treachery in addition to laziness. The word picture is one of a person who refuses to work, and finds ways to steal from others in order to support himself.


III. Blessings Promised to the Diligent
A. Creates Wealth
Prov. 10:4-5
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

B. Causes to Diligent to Rule
Prov. 12:23
Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.
1. Laziness, or slothfulness, results in slave labor, i.e. working hard, but unable to provide for your own needs.

C. Only the Diligent Receive God’s Promises
Heb. 6:12
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
1. This is speaking spiritual things, but the principle is true in regard to everything in life.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

2. In everything, work hard. Be diligent in keeping up your relationship with God. Be diligent on the job. In everything you do, do it with all your might.

D. Parable of the Talents -- Matt. 25:14-30
1. “A Talent Saved Is a Talent Lost” skit (Let My People Laugh by Martha Bolton, nph.com)

2. The parable of the talents is an excellent example of servants with varying degrees of abilities. They were not judged according to whom had the most ability, but according to how they used what they were given. Two were commended for a job well done. The other was reprimanded severely. He lost everything he once had.


Conclusion
A. Avoid the Ways of the Slothful
Prov. 24:30-34
I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;
thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.
I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--
and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.


B. Use the resources and talents God has given you.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, . . .”

C. “New Boss” skit (http://www.thewestcoast.net/bobsnook/)

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