Sloth is usually mentioned in ancient lists, but it rarely gets much attention today. Why is that? Puritan Richard Baxter suggests we don’t understand how spiritually ruinous sloth can be. On Wednesday, we looked at some of the dangers (and opportunities) of retirement. In today’s post, we’ll look at sloth from a more general perspective, including how it should help us view ourselves, our children, and even government programs.
Every age has its blinders. We focus on certain sins to the extent that Scripture does not, while often ignoring sins that Scripture emphasizes. On Wednesday, we looked at Baxter’s warnings regarding retirement and sloth (Don’t Even Think About Retiring Until You Read Richard Baxter). Today, I want to look at Baxter’s thoughts on sloth in general. There are huge implications for us to consider, both personally and societally.
Baxter defines sloth this way: “Sloth signifieth chiefly the indisposition of the mind and body; and idleness signifieth the actual neglect or omission of our duties. Sloth is an averseness to labor, through a carnal love of ease, or indulgence to the flesh.”
It is not sloth when outside circumstances keep us from our work: “It is not sloth or sinful idleness to omit a labor which we are unable to perform: as for the sick, and aged, and weak to be averse to labor through the power of an unresistible disease or weakness; or when nature is already wearied by as much labor as it can bear. Or when reason alloweth and requireth us to forbear our usual labor for our health, or for some other sufficient cause. Or when we are unwillingly restrained and hindered by others.”
Sloth is rather born from choosing a life of self-indulgence and ease voluntarily, just because we can get away with it: “He is most sinfully slothful who is most voluntarily slothful.”
A man talked to the esteemed Dr. John Stott, one of the most eminent and active churchmen of the twentieth century. Stott announced his public retirement from speaking in April 2007, at the age of 86. In his last book, he wrote that he was indeed writing his last book (Published in 2010). He passed away just a few years later, at the age of 90. The man I talked to asked Dr. Stott about his retirement—was he retiring because he didn’t want to do it anymore, or because he couldn’t? Dr. Stott’s response was basically, “I just can’t do it anymore.” His mind wouldn’t cooperate to generate new talks, and his body couldn’t deliver them. He knew when he wrote The Radical Disciple that there wouldn’t be another book in him.
That’s not sloth. That’s recognizing our human limitations, something all of us will eventually face. Sloth would have been ceasing his spiritual labors at 65 or even 75 just because he didn’t need the money. He lived so simply I don’t think he ever needed the money. Dr. Stott gave until he couldn’t, and that’s a good example for all serious followers of Christ.
Almost without fail, I see “sloth” applied today to those who don’t exercise their bodies. Fitness enthusiasts are about the only people I read who address this sin because it fits their agenda. While it applies (taking care of our bodies is a necessary spiritual discipline), this kind of sloth isn’t primarily what the Bible or Baxter emphasizes. To neglect the care of our bodies is, indeed, sinful and irresponsibly slothful. But if you spend ten hours a week in the gym and craft a fine physique, you’re still open to sloth if you neglect weightier matters of life: “The most sinful sloth is against the greatest duties: to be backward to the most holy duties, (as praying, and hearing or reading the word of God) or to duties of public consequence, is a greater sin than to be lazily backward to a common, toilsome work.” It’s more important to be faithful in your walk and service with God than to spend time on your body. That doesn’t mean body care isn’t important (I’ve written a book on that—Every Body Matters). It does mean self-focused body care shouldn’t be our primary concern, especially if it distracts us from more important concerns: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
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