Meet the Sluggard or Slothful

Austin Gardner • September 14, 2022

The slothful sluggard will not overcome discomfort to do what he should

Take a few minutes to teach your students what the Bible says about the slothful person or sluggard. Paint the picture so ugly that they will hate it and not want to be like this lazy person. This lesson along with the others will help them learn to work


The old Noah Webster’s dictionary defines the sluggard as

  • a person that is habitually lazy
  • habitually idle and inactive
  • a drone,
  • slothful
  • dull
  • inactive
  • having no power to move itself
  • drowsily
  • idly
  • slowly.



  • The sluggard likes to sleep! How long are you trying to sleep. He isn’t really tired enough to sleep so he complains of not getting good sleep because he tosses and turns all night long. Proverbs 6:9, 26:14


  • The sluggard irritates those that give him a job to do. His laziness will not allow him to do the work. Proverbs 10:26


  • The sluggard wants a lot but never gets it. He has so many desires that he can never achieve because he refuses to work. He likes and wants things but not willing to pay the price to get them. Proverbs 13:4, 21:25


  • The slothful person or sluggard always things he has it harder than other people. He sees everyone else as having an easier time of it. The road before him is so difficult and that is not his fault Proverbs 15:19


  • The slothful sluggard is too lazy to lift his or her hand from their plate to their mouth. This slothful person is beyond any reasonable idea of laziness. He refuses to even feed himself. Proverbs 19:24, 26:15


  • The slothful sluggard will not overcome discomfort to do what he should. Work will not be comfortable. He needs an easy life. Proverbs 20:4


  • The slothful sluggard imagines whatever ever excuse is necessary to not have to work. Proverbs 22:13, 26:13


  • No one can help this lazy person because they talk fast and listen slowly. They are so sure of their excuses that no one can help. Proverbs 26:16


The Dignity of Work


First Mention of Work

There was work before the fall

Commanded to Work

God gifted people to do a certain work

Even the poor had to work to get food

God gives the power to get wealth



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