Proverbs 6:6-11
Today, I want to go over something that can and will destroy your life. I’ve seen this destroy individuals and families throughout my life. And it’s a very serious thing. And you might think this is hard to hear today. I’m going to talk about being slothful and sluggish.
Sloths are the slowest land animal on earth. On average, they move about as far as 50 of our steps. Slugs and snails move very slowly. I have a watch on my arm that tracks steps. If I only move 50 steps per day, I’m a sloth. I’m a slug. But I don’t. I get thousands of steps per day.
We’re at the beginning of a New Year. It’s time to change things. It’s time to do things the right way according to God’s words.
Now, today, you have a choice. You can listen to God’s words, hear them, and make the change (if needed for you) or ignore all of this, keep doing things the same way, and God’s words about what you’re doing will come to pass. What you’re going to hear today will happen to you unless you change your ways.
Pay Attention When Reading the Bible
If you paid attention to what we just read in the Bible, then you’ll already have a clue to what the Bible says. When we read the Bible before this sermon begins, it’s not a time to just zone out and not listen. When we have church, it’s a time to come in here and listen. It’s not a time to stand out in the lobby and never hear the word of God. This is the most important part of church.
The preaching of the word of God was commanded by God. I am here to teach you what God wants from you and I. Is this important? Yes, it’s important. If you can’t concentrate and listen to the Bible and the preaching from the Bible, you’re going to have a difficult life.
I want you to have a better life. That’s why I am here. I am here to teach what Jesus commands us within the Bible. And doing what God says is always the best for you. So, if you didn’t listen when we just read the Bible, please hear this now.
Proverbs 6:6
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
What’s a sluggard? By definition, a sluggard is a lazy and sluggish person. A habitually lazy person. They have made a habit of being lazy. Some synonyms of sluggard are couch potato, deadbeat, do-nothing, idler, loafer, slouch, slug, bum, good for nothing, slowpoke, straggler, slacker, quitter, lingerer, loiterer, drone, lazybones, snail.
None of those things are good. You don’t want to be any those things. The God of all creation says, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” A sluggard is slothful. Idle. Sleepy. Dull. Lethargic. Drowsy. Tired. The Bible tells us these things.
Consider the Ways of the Ant
To learn the right ways, God says to go take a look at the ant. Consider her ways, and be wise.
There’s a colon at the end of that verse. It’s good to focus in on the details of the Bible. You’ve got to learn to focus in on the little details in life. They are important. That colon means the Bible is going to tell us about the ways of the ant. We’re going to learn wisdom from the word of God.
Proverbs 6:7-8
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
An ant doesn’t have a guide, an overseer, or ruler. No one is telling the ant what to do. The ant does what is needed to be done. The ant provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. An ant is always out there working hard. An ant is the opposite of a sluggard or lazy person.
For example, no one should have to tell you to work. As a man, no one should have to tell you to find a job and get to work.
The Bible says, “Hey sluggard, watch that ant. Go watch the ant!” That ant will teach you something. Watch her work. Consider her ways. Be wise. The ways of an ant are wise. An ant works hard. No guide. No overseer. No ruler. If you act the opposite of the ant, this is foolish.
This is not what an ant does all day. An ant doesn’t sit on the couch eating chips, watching TV, scrolling on the phone, and playing video games.
The Ant Just Gets it Done Without Someone Guiding Them
Each day we ask ourselves. “Hey what should I do? How do I do it? Tell me what you want me to do?” Nope. The ant just gets it done. “Hey Mom, do you need help cleaning?” What do you think the answer to that would be? Of course. Stop asking and do something.
Don’t sit around and do nothing. “Hey Mom, get me a drink. I don’t want to miss this part of my show.” Hey bum, get up, and get it yourself. You know what needs to be done. As a man, your job is to provide for your family. Get up and get it done, sluggard. God isn’t joking about these things. He’s not. It’s time to get going.
You might say, “Nope, I’m NOT going to get up and I’m NOT going to work.” Okay, you directly disobey God, and you go up against Him directly. Verse 9.
Proverbs 6:9-11
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
If you want to be a sluggard or a sloth, the Bible warns you. “So shall thy POVERTY come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”
You won’t have anything. You’ll go to others and ask them to give you everything while you do nothing. You’ll get mad at others that won’t help you any more because you’ll do nothing. You’ll blame it all on others. Everyone else are the bad people. And you are the good people. But that’s not what God says or thinks.
So shall thy poverty come. Poverty is not good. Poverty is having nothing. It’s complete barrenness. This means God won’t take care of you. You will always want. “And thy WANT as an armed man.” You’ll want things so bad that it will be like an armed robbery. Give me that food. Give me those shoes. I WANT IT. You’ll steal from others.
Does Everyone Else Owe You?
And you’ll act like everyone else owes you everything. Everyone else is out there working hard, but you think everyone owes you. THY WANT AS AN ARMED MAN. It’s not right to think that everyone else is supposed to take care of you. You need to get up and get to work if at all possible. It’s good for you. You’ll be happier. You will have a purpose.
There are some people who can’t work. And we help those people. But sometimes that’s in your head too. “Well, I just can’t do it.” In your head. You can work, but you won’t work. It’s your own choice. God gave you that choice. It’s yours to make. The Bible is filled with commands to not be slothful or sluggish.
Proverbs 12:27
The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
I want you to pay close attention to this one. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting. The slothful goes out to have fun. He hunts. The slothful man loves to get things. But then when the sloth or slug gets it, they don’t care for what they get. They don’t take care of it.
For example, I’ve seen people get brand new homes given to them. They get it. And they destroy it. It was given to them. They didn’t have to work for it. So they don’t care for it. New cars given to people. They destroy them. God’s way isn’t to give out everything to everyone.
God says to work for it. And then you’ll appreciate it because you had to put hard labor into it.
“But the substance of a diligent man is precious.” Hey, I worked hard to purchase this church building. I care about it. When people come in and start destroying things because they didn’t have to pay for it, I’m not too happy about it. Why? Because the substance of a diligent man is precious. I care. I worked hard all my life to purchase this church building.
There is No Money Tree at the Church
It wasn’t given. The money didn’t come out of the air. We don’t have a money tree out there. Some people will say, “Well, the church will pay for it.” Who do you think that is? There’s not a magic money tree.
All the food that we purchase here doesn’t come from the money tree out there. There are just a few men and families in here working hard every week paying for everything. It’s the work of the diligent that pays for all of this. It’s the work of the people that get up day in and day out and work hard.
People receive things for free and they get this specific attitude about them. That needs to be fixed. They believe people owe them their entire life. People don’t owe you anything. God doesn’t owe you anything.
I’ve seen men not work, do nothing, and then they believe God is taking care of them. “God always works it out for us.” No, let me be clear. God is NOT working it out for you while you ignore his commandments to work. Other people have helped you that shouldn’t be helping you. It wasn’t God helping you while you break His commandments.
Instead, other people are enabling the sloths and sluggards to continue in their ways. “Oh, God took care of us. Let’s keep doing nothing and He will continue to take care of us.” No. He’s not.
Look at the end of that verse. “But the substance of a diligent man is precious.” What’s a diligent man? Diligent means steady and consistent. Constant in effort or exertion. Not idle. Not negligent. There’s isn’t an “I don’t care” attitude. A diligent man cares about things. Steadily applies work and labor. Prosecuted with care and constant effort. Continuous worker.
A Diligent Man Gets the Job Done No Matter What
For example, a diligent man takes care of his family by going out into this world, finding a job, any job, working hard day in and day out, getting a steady paycheck, buying food for his family, buying a home for his family, and buying clothing for his family. He doesn’t get a paycheck and stop by the gas station to get lottery tickets, scratch offs, a bottle of liquor, cigarettes, chips, and 2-liters.
Gas stations charge you way more than you should be spending on anything. Stay away from them.
A diligent man doesn’t waste his money down at the weed house because he has children to care for and he thinks of them. He has a wife to care for that he loves greatly. He works hard for them to care for them. Lottery tickets. You lose. Alcohol. You lose. Cigarettes. You lose. Chips. You lose. 2-liters. You lose. Weed. You lose. Drugs. You lose. Working hard. You win.
I’m telling you the truth today. Stop all of that trash and listen to God in His words. If you won’t, you’re going to have a rough life. And don’t blame it on anyone but yourself. No excuses. Things change now. It’s time for a new life. It’s time for a change to the good ways, God’s ways.
Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
We have respect for people who are working hard. We have respect for people that are finding jobs. God has respect for those people who are trying and putting forth a great effort. There are jobs out there and it does take work to go find those jobs. You can do it.
People laugh at McDonald’s. “Flipping burgers.” I don’t laugh at that. My wife worked at McDonald’s for 12 years. 1996 to 2007. We have been together since the first date in August of 1996.
My Wife Was Working Hard When I First Saw Her
She also went to Nursing school at the same time she was working. She worked as a nurse her entire pregnancy. Nothing stopped her. McDonalds is a good place to work. That was 18 to 29 years ago. She made $50,000 per year working at McDonalds because they promoted her. Why? Because she showed up early, she worked hard, she showed up every day, and she was the hardest worker there. She did it right. $50,000 per year in 1996 is like making $100,000 per year in today’s world. So don’t laugh at McDonalds.
Hey, please listen, you can be highly successful in Louisville. Find a place to work. Any place not doing illegal things. Pray to God. Ask God to help you find a good job. And then go searching and seeking. And whatever you get, take it. Wendy’s. Take it. Work hard every day. Get there every day. Be early every time. Work hard all the time. Don’t cheat your employer.
Stay over some if needed for free, at times. I do this with my job. I work on my days off, at times, and I don’t charge them. God sees this. He sees it all.
And God will reward you. I saw my wife for the first time working at McDonald’s. I was raised to work hard. And I saw her working very hard. She was focused and diligent. She didn’t even notice me. Why? She was working so hard. She put a full 100% effort forth every day all day long. And she still does.
And that’s one reason I loved her the moment I saw her. And I still love her. And I will always love her. We work hard together. We get things done.
Laziness is Pure and Utter Evil
I hate laziness. I can’t stand it. God hates laziness. He can’t stand it. If you would simply be diligent, work hard and work consistently, you would have a great job and a much easier life. Sluggards and sloths have a harder life. It’s like war every day.
The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing. This world wants you to be a sluggard and desire things. This world wants you to depend on them. This government wants to own you and control you. They want you to depend on them so you don’t depend on God. Make sure you hear me. God wants to give you freedom. This government wants to own you.
Depending on the government equals becoming a sluggard or a sloth. This is 100% truth. Open your eyes and see what’s happening. For example, the government gives you more benefits if you’re unmarried and you’re income is less. So, some people won’t work so their income is less. Some people won’t get married so their income is less.
You decide to not get married so you get the benefits from the government. God commands you to get married. You decide you would rather have the benefits of the government (money) versus the benefits of God. The proof is all around you on which one is better. You can see it.
For example, I don’t get the benefits of the government. I decided to take God’s way. For example, Pam could get disability because of epilepsy from a young age. She decided NO a long time ago. I decided NO a long time ago. We don’t want free money or money that other people worked for. It’s a deception. Free money leads to poverty. And it’s not free. Someone is working for it.
We decided to listen to God’s way. We got married. Getting married is very important. Marriage is God’s way. Fornication is the devil’s way. We had children. She stopped working to take care of our children. I made that decision. Your wife is to care for the children. Men work. Don’t make your wife go get a job and work because you won’t. If there are children, your wife cares for them while you go out and work. God says so.
Work Hard Every Day
I work hard every day to provide for my family and for this church. I don’t remember the last day that I didn’t work. Even on vacations that I’ve taken I have supported my normal job. God told me to do it that way. I did it His way, and it’s far better.
So, you might think the way of this world is better. Free money. It’s not free. It’s not better. It’s a deception. It’s a trick. Being a sluggard because of the government benefits is not better. I promise you that. Being slothful is not good for you. It’s a great sin, and it will kill you.
You might think not getting married is better. God hates fornication or a sexual relationship outside of marriage. He commands you to get married. If you want to join with someone, it better be the last one and you better get married. God says so. You can ignore that commandment, but it’s going to be a rough life without God’s help. It will be.
You might say, “Why is nothing working out?” Remember this today. That’s why. If you decide TODAY to make the change, you get God’s help. If you decide to keep going the same way, you’ll be alone without help. You don’t want that. I don’t want that for you.
Fornication Will Lead to God’s Wrath
1 Corinthians 10:8
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
I want you to see how serious God is about fornication or a sexual relationship outside of marriage. God took out 23,000 of his own people that day. He is serious about not committing fornication. Do you see that? Three and twenty thousand. Let’s find the Scripture where that comes from and take a look. This is why it’s important to be reading your Bible every day.
Numbers 25:1-3
And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
When we choose the world’s way over God’s way, this is just like bowing down to the gods of this world. God’s people began to commit whoredom. The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. It’s time to change things. Watch what the Lord did when his people committed fornication.
Numbers 25:4-5
And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. 5 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor.
God is Not a Pushover
This world makes you think that God is an easy pushover God that just puts up with everything. As you continue to break His commandments, His wrath is kindled more and more. We must choose His way. That’s why we’re here. This isn’t a game. This is serious stuff. God is a serious God.
God says that you will be paid for what you do in this life. Do good and get good. Do bad and get bad. Fornication is evil. Get evil. Laziness is evil. Get evil.
Moses slew 23,000 people that day. He was the judge of Israel. He put them to death as God commanded. This is how serious God is about fornication. Slothfulness is related to all of this in this world today. Idleness leads to sin. Laziness leads to more sin.
Proverbs 15:19
The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
The way of the slothful man is an HEDGE OF THORNS. Hey, it hurts to be slothful. It hurts your family, your spouse, your children, your church, your friends, your co-workers, everyone. It hurts! The Bible says, “Every MAN shall bear his OWN burden.” Don’t put all your burdens on others because it hurts others. These are self-inflicted wounds that can be fixed now.
We help each other, but you can’t continue doing things against God’s words. We hear his words. We make the change immediately. That’s being wise. When do you fix this? Today. Not tomorrow. Today. It’s far easier to just go ahead and fix it today.
Proverbs 18:9
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Are You Wasteful?
If you waste things, you need to take a close look at yourself. Are you also slothful or lazy? The Bible says, “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” They go hand in hand.
For example, I clean up the properties that are next to the church because people throw trash all over them. Down on the street side by Dixie Highway, I will find bags of food. People will give others entire bags of fruit, such as a bag of peaches. Someone took a bite out of one and then threw the whole bag away. When I found them, they looked good. Wasteful. Don’t care.
People who are lazy depend on everyone else to take care of them. They try to take them down with them. Someone paid a lot of money for that bag of food. And then they just threw it away. Why? Because they didn’t have to put the sweat and hard work into it.
Kids like to tear things up. Do you know why? They think it’s funny because they didn’t have to work hard and pay for it. We need to be teaching our kids what hard work happens to be. Get to work. And then the kids won’t think it’s funny when they damage things. All of this is a result of being a sluggard, slothful, and lazy. And it is killing this area, this state, this country.
Proverbs 19:15
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Proverbs 19:24
A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
So Lazy That They Won’t Feed Themselves
My wife has had patients, when she was a nurse, that were so lazy they wouldn’t feed themselves. And nothing was wrong with them in regards to moving their arm. Can’t even bring their hand to their own mouth.
Proverbs 20:4
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
It’s too cold to work. It’s raining. I can’t go out there. The sluggard says these things. What does the Bible say will happen? “Therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing.”
Hey, it’s easier to get up every day and go work than to beg others to do everything for you. You burn the bridges with people because of your slothfulness. You make others very mad when they go out and work every day while you sit there every day doing nothing. Hey, that’s not right. And then you put it all on them when they won’t give you everything you want.
“Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.” If you won’t work, you won’t even eat the Bible says. And it’s true. All of this that you see in the Bible proves the Bible true again and again.
Proverbs 21:25
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
This is all a trap of the devil. When you are doing nothing all day long, you have much time to think. You have more things going through your head. You get this great desire to have all of these other things. “The desire of the slothful killeth him.” Why? “For his hands refuse to labor.” The Bible actually commands us, as Christians, to not help those people.
Do You Want God’s Help or Not?
If you won’t put effort forth, you won’t get God’s help and you won’t get our help. If you refuse to labor, that’s the choice YOU MAKE. God won’t help you. I won’t help you. If I do, I am breaking God’s commandment.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-7
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
2 Thessalonians 3:8-10
Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2 Thessalonians 3:11-12
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
We commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. That with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
Now listen, if this is broken, things will not work out well for you. I’m telling you these things to help you because I want you to do good. Now watch what the Bible says because this is everywhere.
What’s Stopping You From Working?
Proverbs 22:13
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Proverbs 26:13
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
The lazy man won’t go out and work because there’s an excuse for everything. I don’t feel good. I’m sick. Let me tell you something. When you grow up on a farm, it doesn’t matter if you’re sick. The animals don’t care. They still need food and water and shelter. You’re sick? Too bad on a farm. You go out and get the job done anyway.
My back hurts. My head hurts. I’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll do it the next day. Hey, keep putting it off and you’ll be living out in the streets. “I can’t go to work. There’s a lion out there. There is a lion in the way!” You’ll be out there living with the lion soon.
Proverbs 26:16
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
The sluggards come up with schemes to get everyone else to do everything for them. “We’ll get them to buy our food. We’ll get them to pay for our home. Here’s the plan. We’ll get them to serve us.” They think they are wiser than everyone else. We aren’t dumb, sluggards. “The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit” or his own imagination. You’re imagining you’re wiser. You aren’t.
“I’ve Gotten Everything in My Life for Free!”
Some people might boast, “I haven’t worked a job my whole life. And look at me. I have everything.” Well, people who do that have a horrible life and die a horrible death. It’s true. I’ve seen it.
Proverbs 24:30-31
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
Listen, it’s easy to see what’s going on out there. The deception of this world has taken people down. The slothfulness, the laziness is tearing this area apart. It’s time to fix it. Don’t do things by the ways of this world.
The homes are falling down. The homes are falling in. They are being broken down because of slothfulness. No, get up and fix it.
Proverbs 24:32-34
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Being lazy is a great, great sin that leads to so many bad things in your life. It leads to poverty. It leads to you having nothing that you need. The sloths and slugs put their burden on everyone else. It’s time to get to work. It’s time to do what God says.
Receive instruction. Don’t be foolish and get mad and keep doing things the same ways that aren’t working. Don’t get mad at others because you won’t work. Get mad at yourself and do something about it. Husbands take care of your family. Wives get up and do something too. Children, get to work and help your parents. No more laziness this new year.
Do it right, according to what I’m telling you right now, and I want you to come to me this time next year and tell me what happened for you in 2025. You will be blessed beyond belief. Get to work. No slothfulness. No sluggishness. Work hard this year. And watch what God does for you.
Let’s get to work as a church, as individuals, and as families. Let’s do this together and help each other do it right. We encourage and exhort each other to do right.
Let’s pray.
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