Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth

 

 Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

The dictionary definition of sloth is: a disinclination to work or exert oneself; indolence, laziness, idleness.  Like the squirrel in the picture, a slothful individual would rather just hang out or hang around.  In the Seven Deadly Sins, the definition is much the same.

Sloth:  The avoidance of physical labor.

Habitual laziness.

Most of us have known someone who seemed to get by in life by doing absolutely nothing.  Every group project in college has at least one person who does their best to do avoid giving any input toward the completion of the work.  It seems like every year I have a student who cannot manage to do their homework - blaming anyone and everyone else but themselves for their complete lack of motivation.  My daughters have co-workers who avoid the planning meetings but try to take credit for the ideas generated. I would, therefore, like to offer a different definition of the mortal sin of sloth:

Sloth:  Refusing to take responsibility for your life

My father made a variety of statements regarding his children and their need to take responsibility for themselves and their destiny: 

•  If you don't do it, nobody else will.  
• No one is going to do that for you.
• What are you waiting for... a slow boat to China? 
• Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
• Hard work never killed anyone
• No one is going to hand it to you on a silver platter

God has not placed anyone in my life - parents, siblings, friends, co-workers - to provide me with ease and indolence by doing my work for me.  On the contrary, God suggests that I give my all to any and every task - utilizing the creativity and intelligence He has given me to forge my own path in life.