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Idleness and Sloth.

From: The New Topical Textbook

By: Reuben Archer Torrey

Forbidden. Rom. 12:11¹¹Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (Romans 12:11). Heb. 6:12¹²That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:12).

Produce apathy. Prov. 12:27²⁷The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. (Proverbs 12:27). Prov. 26:15¹⁵The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. (Proverbs 26:15).

Akin to extravagance. Prov. 18:9⁹He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. (Proverbs 18:9).

Accompanied by conceit. Prov. 26:16¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. (Proverbs 26:16).

LEAD TO

Poverty. Prov. 10:4⁴He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. (Proverbs 10:4). Prov. 20:13¹³Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. (Proverbs 20:13).

Want. Prov. 20:4⁴The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. (Proverbs 20:4). Prov. 24:34³⁴So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. (Proverbs 24:34).

Hunger. Prov. 19:15¹⁵Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. (Proverbs 19:15). Prov. 24:34³⁴So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. (Proverbs 24:34).

Bondage. Prov. 12:24²⁴The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. (Proverbs 12:24).

Disappointment. Prov. 13:4⁴The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. (Proverbs 13:4). Pro. 21:25²⁵The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labor. (Proverbs 21:25).

Ruin. Prov. 24:30, 31³⁰I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ³¹And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. (Proverbs 24:30‑31). Ecc. 10:18.

Tattling and meddling. 1 Tim. 5:13¹³And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. (1 Timothy 5:13).

Effects of, afford instruction to others. Prov. 24:30-32³⁰I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; ³¹And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. ³²Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. (Proverbs 24:30‑32).

Remonstrance against. Prov. 6:6, 9⁶Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: (Proverbs 6:6)
⁹How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? (Proverbs 6:9).

False excuses for. Prov. 20:4⁴The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. (Proverbs 20:4). Pro. 22:13¹³The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. (Proverbs 22:13).

Illustrated. Prov. 26:14¹⁴As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. (Proverbs 26:14). Matt. 25:18, 26¹⁸But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. (Matthew 25:18)
²⁶His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: (Matthew 25:26).

Exemplified. Watchmen, Isa. 56:10¹⁰His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. (Isaiah 56:10). Athenians, Acts 17:21²¹(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) (Acts 17:21). Thessalonians. 2 Thess. 3:11¹¹For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. (2 Thessalonians 3:11).

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The New Topical Textbook

• High Places.

• High Priest, the.

• Holiness of God, the.

• Holy Ghost, the Comforter, the.

• Holy Ghost, the, Is God.

• Holy Ghost, the Personality of.

• Holy Ghost, the Teacher, the.

• Holy of Holies.

• Horse, the.

• Hospitality.

• Human Nature of Christ, the.

• Humility of Christ, the.

• Hyke or Upper Garment.

• Hypocrites.

• Idleness and Sloth.

• Ignorance of God.