Sloth
Scripture:
Proverbs 26:15-16
A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.
Hebrews 6:11-12
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Reflection:
Today I choose to fast from the sin of sloth.
Sloth isn’t a word we use much anymore and when we do it’s often a synonym for “lazy”. However, sloth goes deeper than this. St. Thomas Aquinas called sloth a sadness or “sorrow for spiritual good”. Sloth is much more about what’s happening inside of us than it is about the actions that we take.
Sloth has two measures: balance and effort.
First, balance. Think about all of the aspects of your life: family, work, friends, leisure, health, spirituality. Which ones are most dominant in your life? While we all go through seasons where different things take priority for a while, if you find yourself consistently unhappy with how you are spending your time or wishing that something could be more of a priority, this could be an indication of sloth.
Second, effort. Whether it’s a new diet and exercise routine, a hobby, a spiritual discipline, or a project at work we’ve all started something really excited and then lost our motivation partway through. Or maybe we start with really good intentions but then other priorities take over. But if we quit when the going gets tough, or the initial passion fades, or life gets busy again, this could be an indication of sloth.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
Which areas of my life seem out of balance?
When am I most likely to give up or become distracted from the things that are really important?
Prayer:
Pray that God would open your heart and mind to better understand what sloth looks like in your life and how to move forward from it. Talk to God about the areas of your life that need more balance or effort and ask for God’s help to make the necessary changes.
These devotions have been adapted from “Lenten Healing: 40 Days to Set You Free from Sin” by Ken Kniepmann.
