Hebrews 6:12  That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Rm 12:11

7.  SLOTH is the desire for ease, even at the expense of doing the known will of God. Whatever we do in life requires effort. The slothful person is unwilling to do what God wants because of the effort it takes to do it...becomes a sin  Sloth and laziness are not the same thing as fatigue. We need a break and relaxation from work. But we give in to Sloth when we are unwilling to pay the price of exertion in doing what reason and faith tell us God wants us to do.  http://www.deadlysins.com/sins/sloth.html

Remedies for Sloth are: frequent reflections on the harm it causes, developing the habits of punctuality and good works, prudent planning, and meditation on divine justice in rewarding human effort and punishing laziness in the service of God. {Phil 2:13 grace}

“Sloth is the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, loves nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive only because it has found nothing for which it is willing to die.” D Sayers 

I. Looking at the Sluggard's Pattern of Procrastination

A. False excuses for inactivity 26:13 The slothful man says a lion in the way; a lion in the streets. He has all kinds of excuses for putting things off: I've tried it before.  I've never tried it before.  It might not work. It might work in an unexpected manner.  It's too hard.

B. False activity without accomplishment 26:14 As the door turns upon his hinges, so the slothful upon his bed.  
Thinks activity is a substitute for achievement.

C. False starts without completion 26:15  slothful buries his hand in his dish; it grieves/wearies him to bring it again to his mouth. 
Starts but never finishes.

D. False rationalization without rational base 26:16 The sluggard’s wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. Rationalizes every failure. Blames others, circumstances, God...it's always someone elses fault, No ownership of actions nor  failure.

II. Lacks of the Sluggard(Wisdom = choosing the right________ and the right __________ of attaining them.) {Enthusiastic Passion}

A. Wisdom 6:6-11 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,7 no overseer or ruler 8  summer...harvest.

B. Fear of the Lord 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom ,and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 
Need to develop an internal motivation to take advantage of opportunities. {embrace eternal realities, like judgment and reward}

C. Humility 26:12 Do you a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason   Not even God can tell him what to do.Humility is a proper, realistic view of ourselves in relation to God (dependent creatures) and others (servant), that allows us to enthusiastically embrace God’s sovereign will (obedience) and focus on serving others’ needs (without thought of our temporal loss or benefit), resulting in deepened intimacy and blessing.

D. Understanding 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful by the vineyard of the man void of understanding. 31 thorns broken down. 32  saw it, considered it well; looked on it; received instruction: 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest...
Ps 111:10  fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments{Truth or Conseq}
Pr 2:1 IF you receive my words, treasure my commands within you, 2 so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 cry out for discernment and understanding, 4 seek as silver, search as for hidden treasures; (23:23 buy) 5 THEN you will understand fear of  LORD, find the knowledge of God 9:10  6 For LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge & understanding
Job 28:28 fear of  Lord is wisdom, to depart from evil is understanding. Pr 4:7 Wisdom the principal thing;  get wisdom  get understanding.

E. Faithfulness 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so the sluggard to them that send him. {Time is the interval…}

F. Diligence 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing: but the soul of the diligent/decisive/sharp shall be made fat.
Pr 12:27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man's precious possession.{2Pt 1 add to your faith}

G. Uprightness 15:19 The way of the slothful is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

H. Initiative 20:4 The sluggardwill not plow by reason of the cold,- therefore shall he begs in harvest, and have nothing.

I. Righteousness 21:25 The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labor. 26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous gives...

III.  Learning from the Sluggard's Process of Poverty

24:30  "A little laziness leads to a large loss.”
A. Observation - "Saw" "Looked"       B. Interpretation - "Applied heart (reflected)"    C. Application  - "Received instruction"

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Life Response:

1. Why do we gravitate toward inertia? How does immediate gratification relate to sloth? Is spiritual sloth sin? Are there consequences?
2. Do the "little things" make a large difference?  Was the sluggard neglecting "little things"?
3. Why is laziness sin?  What effect does laziness have on us? Others? God? Are the 'lacks" in #II. (above) causes or consequences?
4. Can the busy be lazy? Can one be lazy by busily doing the wrong things? Why do we sometimes avoid the most beneficial tasks?
5. Where in your life could you be a little less lazy/more diligent?  How can you start to build the anti-traits into your life this week?