Inaction

The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work; (Proverbs 21:25 NAS)

Amid discussing the options how to react to crises or situations, we may have been advised that inaction is the best course of action. The risk of such inaction, unfortunately, often bears consequences of potentially greater dangers because of its unpredictability. Consider the consequences of doing nothing about the climate change, health care, fiscal cliff or crises in the regions, just to name a few.

Inaction or being lazy at times is not something many of us would ever admit preferring, because for most of us, we are more often too busy to even find time to rest. Perhaps, some of us may feel unrest or even guilty having a well-deserved rest. To such people, there is only a fine line between rest and sloth. Rest is essential and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Amid our busyness, we must make time to get sufficient rest. 

In contrast, unwillingness to put much effort in whatever we are doing is pure laziness. Staying idle, doing little, or disliking work, yet expecting a return for our ‘effort’ is like a sluggard who does not plow and expects a harvest, but found nothing (Proverbs 20:4).

The Bible warns us that he who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys. The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat. The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger. The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, for his hands refuse to work. Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks (Proverbs 13:4; 15:19; 18:9; 19:15; 21:25; Ecclesiastes 10:18).

Not doing what we should be doing is as much the same as indolence, laziness and sloth. If anyone is unwilling to work, let him also not eat. But for the working man, his sleep is pleasant whether he eats little or much. When he lies down, he will not be afraid, but his sleep will be sweet (2 Thessalonians 3:10; Ecclesiastes 5:12; Proverbs 3:24).

Are we staying away from what we know we must do? Is our inaction hurting others? Are we slacking in our work?

In whatever we do, let us do our work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, for it is our Lord Christ whom we serve (Colossians 3:23-24).

Dear Lord, grant us rest amid unrest to keep focused on You. Help us not stay away from doing what is right or what we ought to do. Whenever we are half-hearted doing what we are doing, remind us that it is You whom we serve. Renew in us a heart and spirit that is diligent and not lazy or insolent but is upright that when we lie down, we might not be afraid, but our sleep will be pleasant and sweet.