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The last two on the list of the Seven Deadly Sins are Greed and Sloth. I call these ‘boundary’ sins. They are either concerned with partitioning things to ourselves or living without boundaries or restrictions. With Greed, we selfishly hoard objects and relationships. And then crave to control even more, when we aren’t satisfied with what we have. But with Sloth, we take no responsibility for what God has entrusted to us. We do not maintain the boundaries and therefore, through laziness, all we have easily falls away from us.

Greed is Sin

Greed promises contentment. If only we could be a millionaire, then we’d be happy. But once we become addicted to the sin of greed, we can never be content or ever stop wanting. Our desire to have more, leads us to make decisions which have no concern for the welfare of others.

Greed isn’t just about acquiring more things or relationships, but also about being selfish with what we currently have. We become extremely jealous over what we control. We then can’t share or act unselfishly, without personal gain. The habit of greed will ruin any relationship we engage with, because it attempts to curtail another person’s freedom to choose. It stops them making a decision which could result in them going against the greedy person’s control.

Jesus and Greed

As we’ve discussed, greed wants to take control. Jesus tells us to beware of greed:

Luke 12 v 15

Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.

Jesus’ response to greed is to trust that God will provide all your needs.

Matthew 6 v 25

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

The more we trust God, the more we don’t need to obsessively control everything and everyone around us. We simply trust that God will look after us, according to His plans.

Greed leads to selfishness, and dishonesty. It creates division and conflict, contributing to greater injustices. If a community resists greed, it thrives.

The antidote to greed is charity. By giving our money, time and energy to others without a thought of gain, creates habits which undo the power of greed.

Sloth and Lazy

The final sin on this list is sloth or laziness. As I said in my preamble, sloth does not maintain the wall around the things and people God has entrusted us to look after.

We are not willing to sacrifice the time to be diligent and vigilant. So sloth leads to the sin of neglect.

This just doesn’t relate to possessions and people, but also with what God has entrusted to us with regard to skills, talents and passions. If God has given us an incredible talent and passion to draw and we choose not to use it, then we are commit the sin of sloth.

It’s easy to tear down or to let something fall, but it is hard to build and create. Sloth is happy to entertain the destruction of order and always takes the path of least resistance.

If we fight against sloth and remain focussed on what God has asked us to do, we will prosper according to His will.

Proverbs 10:4

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth (prosperity).

Opposite to Greed

In some ways, sloth is the extreme opposite to greed. Whereas greed seeks to control, a slothful person does not care for their environment. It sees no purpose in protecting it.

Sloth and the Last Judgement

Christ will judge all people on their works. We are not saved by our works, but through faith in Christ. How then do we show our faith in Christ? Through doing the good works God gives us to do and act in a faithful way to Him.

Ephesians 2 v 8-10

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do

The sin of sloth neglects these works, so we miss the mark God sets for us.

The antidote to sloth is diligence. If we make a concerted effort to ‘tidy our room’, act faithfully towards God and take care of all He has entrusted to us, then we will hear:

Matthew 25 v 23

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

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