The third part of a series of six. The sluggard is characterized as slow. He is incapable of getting common choirs done and can bring disaster on himself and others.

1. The People of Proverbs
Lesson Three:
The Sluggard

2. The most tragically humorous
character in proverbs
Sluggard literally means “to be slow or hesitant”.
Whatever the sluggard does is characterized by
incredible slowness.

3. Refers to more than laziness
It is contrasted to “upright”
Proverbs 15:19 (NET)The way of the sluggard is
like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the
upright is like a highway.

4. Refers to more than laziness
It is associated with the shiftless (lacking
resources and character: aimless, not
dependable).
Proverbs 19:15 Laziness brings on a deep sleep,
and the idle person will go hungry.

5. Refers to more than laziness
He is associated with one who lacks judgment
(no discernment).
Proverbs 24:30-31 30
I passed by the field of a
sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks
wisdom. 31
I saw that thorns had grown up all
over it, the ground was covered with weeds,
and its stone wall was broken down.

6. I. His Internal Character
A. He has no internal motivation
1. He will not begin things.
Proverbs 6:6-11 6
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
observe its ways and be wise! 7
It has no
commander, overseer, or ruler, 8
yet it prepares its
food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it
will eat. 9
How long, you sluggard, will you lie
there? When will you rise from your sleep? 10
A little
sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to
relax, 11
and your poverty will come like a robber,
and your need like an armed man.

7. I. His Internal Character
A. He has no internal motivation
1. He will not begin things.
2. He will not finish things.
Proverbs 19:24 The sluggard plunges his
hand in the dish, and he will not even bring it
back to his mouth!.

8. I. His Internal Character
B. He has inward desires, but is helpless to fulfill
them.
Proverbs 13:4 The appetite of the sluggard craves
but gets nothing, but the desire of the diligent will
be abundantly satisfied.
– He is a dreamer (loves chance and lotteries)
– Can’t satisfy his desires because he will not work

9. I. His Internal Character
C. He lacks foresight and preparation.
Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow
during the planting season, so at harvest time
he looks for the crop but has nothing.
– I want to be a professional athlete, but …
– I want to be a doctor, but …
– I want to own a house, but …

10. I. His Internal Character
D. He has a restless unsatisfied desire.
Proverbs 21:25-26 25
What the sluggard desires
will kill him, for his hands refuse to work. 26
All
day long he craves greedily, but the righteous
gives and does not hold back.

11. I. His Internal Character
E. He is self-deceived.
1. He rationalizes his laziness.
Proverbs 22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a
lion outside! I will be killed in the middle of the
streets!”

12. I. His Internal Character
2. He thinks himself wise
Proverbs 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his
own estimation than seven people who
respond with good sense.

13. II. How does he effect others?
A. He is an irritation to others
Proverbs 10:26 Like vinegar to the teeth and
like smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to
those who send him.
Why? He fails to carry out his
responsibilities.

14. II. How does he effect others?
B. He is costly to others.
Proverbs 18:9 The one who is slack in his
work is a brother to one who destroys.
Why? A poor, unfinished job differs little from
a project hat someone demolished – both are
valueless.

15. II. How does he effect others?
C. He becomes dependent on others.
Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow
during the planting season, so at harvest time
he looks for the crop but has nothing.
Why? Because he has nothing he begs from
others for sustenance.

16. III. What is the outcome of his life?
A. Poverty
Proverbs 24:30-34 30
I passed by the field of a
sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom.
31
I saw that thorns had grown up all over it, the
ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall
was broken down. 32
When I saw this, I gave careful
consideration to it; I received instruction from what
I saw: 33
“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little
folding of the hands to relax, 34
and your poverty will
come like a bandit, and your need like an armed
robber.”

17. III. What is the outcome of his life?
B. Death
Proverbs 21:25 What the sluggard desires will
kill him, for his hands refuse to work.
He will starve to death
He won’t care for his health

18. IV. How can a sluggard be cured?
A. Instruct them
1. Honor those that work and admonish the
lazy
1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 12 Now we ask you, brothers
and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you
and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13
and to esteem them most highly in love because of their
work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge
you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined,
comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward
all.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-14 (NET) 7
For you know yourselves
how you must imitate us, because we did not behave
without discipline among you, 8
and we did not eat
anyone’s food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery
we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you.
9
It was not because we do not have that right, but to give
ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10
For even
when we were with you, we used to give you this
command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should
he eat.” 11
For we hear that some among you are living an
undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling
in the work of others. 12
Now such people we command and
urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so
provide their own food to eat. 13
But you, brothers and
sisters, do not grow weary in doing what is right. 14
But if
anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take
note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that
he may be ashamed.

19. IV. How can a sluggard be cured?
A. Instruct them
2. through examples in nature
Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
observe its ways and be wise!

20. IV. How can a sluggard be cured?
B. Let them pay the consequences of their
idleness.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we
were with you, we used to give you this
command: “If anyone is not willing to work,
neither should he eat.”

21. IV. How can a sluggard be cured?
C. Some personal suggestions
1. Show them how – teach them how to do it.

22. IV. How can a sluggard be cured?
C. Some personal suggestions
1. Show them how – teach them how to do it.
2. Start with little chores and build gradually.
– Break big chores into small parts. Large chores may
seem overwhelming.

23. IV. How can a sluggard be cured?
C. Some personal suggestions
1. Show them how – teach them how to do it.
2. Start with little chores and build gradually.
3. Make the choir fun and add rewards.
4. Show them what they have already accomplished.
5. Take away distractions (TV, video games, etc.).
6. Remove from environment that which promotes the ways
of a sluggard (lotteries, chance, get rich quick, etc.).

24. Lead them to the Savior.

25. “There’s very little
difference among men, but
it’s the little difference that
makes the big difference.”