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

2 Peter 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren  nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I. Recognizing Sloth

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. Everything we do is to be a means of salvation The slothful person is unwilling to do what God wants because of the effort it takes to do it. There is such a thing as weariness in well-doing. Sloth becomes a sin when it slows down and even brings to a halt the energy we must expend in using the means to salvation. Sloth is mainly psychological. 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 Gods wants us to do. . Catholic Catechism http://www.slothwerks.com/SlothSin.html

 
Remedies for Sloth are frequent reflections on the harm it causes, by developing the habits of punctuality, prudent planning, and meditation on divine justice in rewarding human effort and punishing laziness in the service of God.

sluggishness of the mind which neglects to begin good.. it is evil in its effect, if it so oppresses man as to draw him away from good deeds Aquinas2,35, 

There is no greater danger to the church than the sin of indifference. The sin of apathy. The sin that says we just do not care anymore.

”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.” Dorothy Sayers

II. Lighting a fire under sloth

Zeal is the energetic response of the heart to God's commands. The other sins work together to deaden the spiritual senses so we first become slow to respond to God and then drift completely into the sleep of complacency. www.rushman.org/seven/index.html

Matthew 25:26  "But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.

Titus 1:12  One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.

Romans 12:11  Not slothful <3636> in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

So sloth is often disguised as calmness, serenity, keeping a level head, open mindedness,

Best time to plant a tree

Eugene Normady  dislocated shoulder

Hunger and thirst after righteousness

5. Sloth

(Two chairs are placed upstage center facing the audience.)

Christian: (enthusiastically enters from right to downstage center wearing a chain with a large cross around the neck.) Hello. My name is Christian, and I am you. I try to do my best to walk the Christian walk of faith. I have just one more thing to say to help us all... (Christian takes a deep breath as if to continue speaking. Christian then pauses. Staying in spot, she looks around the congregation noticing that the other actor Sloth is missing her cue. Then speaks loudly so that Sloth will receive her cue): I have just one more thing to say to help us all (stressing the last few words).- (There is a pause. Staying downstage center, Christian looks around again. Then showing frustration, she takes her script out of her back pocket and examines the script' s lines.) There! It says right there! It says, 'Enters Sloth from stage right interrupting Christian.' (Looks down aisle stage right) Well?...I am waiting. (There is another pause).- (Yelling to the back) I...am...waiting! (And yet another pause.)- (Christian goes to the back of the church and returns pulling/pushing Sloth to the stage. Sloth, who- does not resist, plods slowly forward. Christian putting Sloth into place right stage center) There! Just like in rehearsal. You stand- there while I do my speech.

Sloth:(Finally, looking up with a bored expression) Whatever.

Christian: Are you ready? Ready to say your lines?

Sloth: Sure.

Christian: (after she takes her place downstage center, she looks over to Sloth) Now we are starting... Just one more thing to say to help us all. (Christian pauses waiting for Sloth to interrupt. Sloth does not respond. Christian nudges Sloth into action.)

Sloth:(grudgingly) Oh, yeah... Hey Christian, how? (smiles in triumph)

Christian: (Christian can' t believe she is stuck with Sloth) What?!? (looking at her script) That' s not what you are suppose to say!

Sloth: I' m into improvisation. Memorization is just too hard.

Christian: Would you just say your lines.

Sloth: Whatever. (Takes out script and begins to search for lines) What page are we on?

Christian:(frustrated) Page one. We haven' t started yet.

Sloth: Sure. (Christian turns to face the congregation, ready to start the play. As Christian is doing this, Sloth drops the script and moves upstage to slouch on a chair.)

Christian: (not looking back) Ready now?

Sloth: _ .

Christian: Got your script?

Sloth: _

Christian:(looking back) Hey, what are you doing?(moves to behind the chairs to urge Sloth forward) Come on. Why don' t you just try? We need you to do this play.

Sloth: Me? You don' t need me.

Christian: Of course, we need you. You' ve been given lots of gifts. Now it' s time to use some.

Sloth: It' s too hard. I don' t feel like it. -

Christian: But the play won' t happen without you.

Sloth: (patting the other chair) Christian, come here.

Christian: What? We are in the middle of...

Sloth: Come here and sit down. (Christian sits) (Sloth motions to the congregation) Look out there. What do you see?

Christian: (unsure of the right answer) The... people in the church

Sloth: Look at them

Christian: So?

Sloth: (pointing to the right) See that guy over there with his head down?

Christian: Uh huh Sloth:(pointing to the left) See the kid over there talking to her friend?

Christian: (getting discouraged) Oh.

Sloth:(pointing to the congregation center) And that lady there? She can' t get her nose out of the bulletin papers.

Christian: (takes on Sloth' s body posture) I get it.

Sloth: I could go on, but why bother? They just don' t care.

Christian: Nobody.

Sloth: You see,...so why bother?

Christian: Whatever.

Sloth: Yeah, it' s not like God can use us to make a difference in any of their lives.

Christian: (coming out of a stupor) No, I don' t believe that to be true.(She comes forward downstage center and begins to pray)

Sloth: (As she slowly lies down on both chairs) Oh, come on Christian...Prayer doesn' t make a difference either... you see... never mind.. whatever... (Sloth freezes but remains on stage, a presence that does not leave Christian.) -

Christian: (looks up from prayer) Hello. My name is Christian, and I am you. I try to do my best to walk the Christian walk of faith. I have just more one thing to say to help us all: No temptation has seized you except what is common to all people. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (I Cor.10:13)

(Christian freezes.)

(Curtain )

http://www.carey.ac.nz/drama/Walk/seven_sins.html