What does it mean to be lazy? Laziness can refer to our despair about investing in life as a whole or to our unwillingness to invest in certain aspects of normal living. We lack hope that there is any point to activity. Hence, laziness is often coupled with such things as depression, indecision, fear of failure, or procrastination. As Thomas Aquinas put it, laziness can be viewed as “sorrow in the Divine Good” – which leads to turning away from God and His will.
Some signs of laziness include an unwillingness to work (1 Th 3:10-12) or to work hard enough for possible advancement (Prov 10:5; 13:22). Further signs could be half-hearted efforts (Col 3:23) and an unwillingness to act constructively when such action is needed (Prov 20:4). Other indicators might be unreasonable excuses (Prov 22:13; 26:13), being too proud to work hard (Prov 26:16), an unreasonably strong emphasis on relaxation (Prov 26:14), and not beginning (Prov 6:9-10) or finishing what ought to be done (Prov 19:24; 26:15).
Laziness can lead to undermined usefulness (Prov 10:26) and a sense of meaninglessness (Eccl 2:1-2 with 5:18-19 and 12:13). Poverty (Prov 10:4) and unsatisfied desires (Prov 13:4) are additional results. Laziness can also lead to frustration (Prov 15:19), restlessness (Prov 21:25-26), and a breech in fellowship with obedient believers (1 Th 3:6, 10-15). Ultimately, it produces movement away from love toward death (Rom 13:10 with Prov 18:9) and to loss at Judgment Day (1 Cor 3:8-15).
The solution for laziness is to become diligent (Rom 12:11) for the right things (Gal 4:18; 2 Cor 7:11). Diligence can be developed by having God’s glory – not our ease – as our life goal (1 Cor 10:31). We make a respectable effort at all tasks (Col 3:23), take tasks one step at a time (Prov 21:5), look to our reward (Prov 20:4), and remember that we are accountable to Christ (Mt 25:26-27).
Instead of being timid, learn to be appropriately bold.