Is it a sin to be lazy?

[Animelover93]

My whole life I've been spoiled and haven't done much of anything. My house is unclean, which I still live with my dad because he's sick, and I hardly do any housework like I should. I know that I need to help him but my depression causes me not to. So I'm trying to get out of the rut I'm in and help out. But it would be a lot more motivating and helpful if I knew what the lord says about my lifestyle. What does he think about a lazy person and is it a sin? Thanks!

 

[Sabertooth]

But it would be a lot more motivating and helpful if I knew what the lord says about my lifestyle. What does he think about a lazy person and is it a sin?

It is unwise and bad for you to be lazy.
It sounds like you need to treat the depression, first, though.
(Tidying up & exercise might actually help against depression.)

 

[Anthony2019]

Just give me a few days to procrastinate and I'll probably get back to you with the answer!

 

[bèlla]

The bible addresses laziness a lot.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

~bella

 

[rturner76]

I wonder about this as someone with depression and anxiety I have a hard time getting out the door sometimes. I started to wonder if I'm not just depressed but also lazy. Lack of motivation is a symptom of depression but the best thing one can do for depression is get active which is the hardest thing to do when you have depression.

Being stuck in this cycle can feel like laziness but there are challenges for people with depression. It's not always just pure lazyness.

 

[bèlla]

If you want to marry and have a family you should address this now. You’ll avoid a lot of arguments and hurt feelings. Most men consider housekeeping a woman’s domain. They may pitch in but the lion’s share will fall to you.

Unclean environments are the top 3 (or 5) complaints men have about their spouses. And one they frequently share with others.

There will be moments when one or more are under the weather. Living in disarray is stressful. And a bad example for children. Laziness is contagious.

~bella

 

[BobRyan]

My whole life I've been spoiled and haven't done much of anything. My house is unclean, which I still live with my dad because he's sick, and I hardly do any housework like I should. I know that I need to help him but my depression causes me not to. So I'm trying to get out of the rut I'm in and help out. But it would be a lot more motivating and helpful if I knew what the lord says about my lifestyle. What does he think about a lazy person and is it a sin? Thanks!

it is indeed a sin. And being lazy, having a messy place to live etc, also promotes depression.

The bible condemns "the slothful" and "the sluggard".

 

[Gregory Thompson]

My whole life I've been spoiled and haven't done much of anything. My house is unclean, which I still live with my dad because he's sick, and I hardly do any housework like I should. I know that I need to help him but my depression causes me not to. So I'm trying to get out of the rut I'm in and help out. But it would be a lot more motivating and helpful if I knew what the lord says about my lifestyle. What does he think about a lazy person and is it a sin? Thanks!

I recommend to read the proverbs and pay attention to the word "sluggard"

some bibles translate it as lazy one, lazy bum, slothful one, lazybones, or slacker.

 

[Benjamin Müller]

Ezekiel 16:49-50 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

There's nothing wrong with having chill days, especially during the winter with limited stuff to do, but if there's housework to do, it should get done--at least at some point in time during the day.

I've been sick myself with anemia and Crohn's, which causes me depression. The depression is both biological and psychological. Biological in the sense that my brain is getting limited oxygen, affecting me physically but also psychological because I'm exhausted all the time and I'm depressed by the lack of accomplishments.

So believe me, I get how depression or any illness can cause lack of motivation or 'laziness'. Depression can be extremely exhausting. Maybe because I'm bias, but I wouldn't even want to call you lazy because if you have a medical issue you're fighting, that's hard enough.

It's good you want to get out of a rut, but don't beat yourself up either or try jumping into too much if you're really down and out. You should change yourself and improve your work ethic, though. What you need is a routine. I would recommend to get back into the swing of things, force yourself to get up at a specific time; start your day with one or two small accomplishment like making your bed, and build up with a chore checklist. Play upbeat music while cleaning to get you motivated.

Condemning yourself isn't helpful nor fruitful. You know the problem, take steps to change. If they are small steps that's fine; you can take bigger ones as you get better.

 

[Sketcher]

If you want to guilt/berate yourself into acting better, there's healthier and probably more effective ways to motivate yourself. Putting Scripture through a toxic mental filter isn't honoring to God.

 

[angelsaroundme]

Music can be helpful in putting yourself in an energetic mood. Listening to music while doing chores may make it easier since you'll be less focused on the task itself.

 

[turkle]

My whole life I've been spoiled and haven't done much of anything. My house is unclean, which I still live with my dad because he's sick, and I hardly do any housework like I should. I know that I need to help him but my depression causes me not to. So I'm trying to get out of the rut I'm in and help out. But it would be a lot more motivating and helpful if I knew what the lord says about my lifestyle. What does he think about a lazy person and is it a sin? Thanks!

If you are waiting for motivation to get into action, then you will most likely have a long, long wait.

All of the Bible verses that others quoted above talk about the sluggard, and how their lives will be full of need and they are trapped in their own laziness. If you live in an unclean, messy environment, your depression will increase. Then you will be less motivated. It's an endless downward cycle.

Now that you know that laziness is sin, I recommend that instead of waiting for motivation, make a choice. Become determined to take care of house work, starting with cleaning. Then decluttering. Then organizing. As your environment improves, you will become motivated by your own success. As Nike says, just do it. Promise yourself that you will start at a certain time, and keep your promise. Do it no matter how much you want to put it off. Then, when you're done, look at your accomplishment and give yourself a pat on the back. Then do more the next day. Before you know it, clean living will become a life style. Then go on to tackle another project. Or a great job. This is how you build self esteem. God will give you the strength to do this. And then you can feel good about how you took this responsibility off of your ill father's hands.

Make a choice. Make it happen.

 

[JosephJurg]

I definitely understand what it's like to live in that kind of rut. I have often fallen into a pattern of wasting all my time playing video games or watching Netflix rather than getting stuff done that I need to do. However, Christ said in John 10:10 that, "I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly." It doesn't sound like you feel like you are having an abundant life full of the Spirit's joy (the opposite of depression), and self control (the opposite of laziness). So yes you are sinning because the fruits of the spirit are not evident in these areas of your life. However, Romans 8:1 says, "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." So God loves you and doesn't condemn you. And, you shouldn't have a view of yourself that's different from God's view.

My practical advice is that first you should ask the advice of your spiritual authority (pastor, priest, etc.(Find a spiritual authority that you can trust if you don't have one!). Then you should seek out accountability in Christian fellowship. Find a Christian brother or sister in your local church who you trust and who you know loves you and will gently correct you. Share your struggle with them and ask them for help in fighting your sin. Then set goals (ex:I will clean the dishes every other day) and have them hold you to them. You can live the abundant and disciplined life that God wants you to have if you follow his teaching. That is really a wonderful promise from God for his children!

Also, it will be very helpful to examine why you feel unmotivated. David did this in psalm 42, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Ask yourself these questions and try to expose the lies and emotional wounds that God desperately wants to help you overcome.

Hope this helps,
Joseph Jurgensmeier

 

[Questioning Brother]

Yes. It is called sloth. One of the seven deadly sins.

 

[SANTOSO]

My whole life I've been spoiled and haven't done much of anything. My house is unclean, which I still live with my dad because he's sick, and I hardly do any housework like I should. I know that I need to help him but my depression causes me not to. So I'm trying to get out of the rut I'm in and help out. But it would be a lot more motivating and helpful if I knew what the lord says about my lifestyle. What does he think about a lazy person and is it a sin? Thanks!

Beloved one, be diligent to seek the Lord.

Let us not be self conscious but be God conscious, that we may know what God has prepared for those who love Him.

For we heard:
But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"' -1 Corinthians 2:9

Beloved one, let us be excited to know what God has prepared for us who love Him.

To God the Father be thanksgiving through Christ. Amen

 

[.Mikha'el.]

My whole life I've been spoiled and haven't done much of anything. My house is unclean, which I still live with my dad because he's sick, and I hardly do any housework like I should. I know that I need to help him but my depression causes me not to. So I'm trying to get out of the rut I'm in and help out. But it would be a lot more motivating and helpful if I knew what the lord says about my lifestyle. What does he think about a lazy person and is it a sin? Thanks!

Study after study has shown that physical activity is one of the best ways to combat depression. And having a cleaner house will give you a sense of pride and lift your spirits.

 

[Dietrich Lorentz]

My whole life I've been spoiled and haven't done much of anything. My house is unclean, which I still live with my dad because he's sick, and I hardly do any housework like I should. I know that I need to help him but my depression causes me not to. So I'm trying to get out of the rut I'm in and help out. But it would be a lot more motivating and helpful if I knew what the lord says about my lifestyle. What does he think about a lazy person and is it a sin? Thanks!

 

[Dietrich Lorentz]

My whole life I've been spoiled and haven't done much of anything. My house is unclean, which I still live with my dad because he's sick, and I hardly do any housework like I should. I know that I need to help him but my depression causes me not to. So I'm trying to get out of the rut I'm in and help out. But it would be a lot more motivating and helpful if I knew what the lord says about my lifestyle. What does he think about a lazy person and is it a sin? Thanks!

***You already know what to do. You need to clean up around the house. This will motivate you to do more. I always lived in dream land, but I know that if I don't do what I need to do, what needs to be done just stays there undone. Try this, say to yourself, "I'm going eat a good breakfast, then I'm going to clean every mess I see until it's done." Then you can celebrate with ice cream and a movie. And while you're eating breakfast just imagine that tomorrow you won't have to clean so much, because you made the effort the day before. Just do it. Depression can be a poor excuse. Jump up and down and do some jumping jacks, that will motivate you. I do that, I can get silly in many ways to motivate myself. There's nothing wrong with you, remember that. Don't forget to celebrate. -- Go, it's time to do things, and maybe get a job to buy what you want. Go. Go now. DL