"He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster." Prov. 18:9.
Sloths, which live in the tropics of Central and South America, are among the strangest of all animals. A full-grown one is about two feet long, having a short, round head and small, dull eyes. Its face is bare, its ears hardly visible, and its neck-the same diameter as its head -just merges into its body without any real shape of its own. Some species can turn their heads almost completely around without moving their bodies, which suits them just fine, because then they don't have to exert themselves as much. They are so lazy that sometimes they stay in the same spot all day!
No wonder the Bible doesn't have anything good to say about them. In fact, as in our opening verse, the Bible speaks in many places of how shameful it is for people to be like these lazy creatures. One verse tells us "Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Heb. 6:1212That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:12). Perhaps the Creator allowed the sloth to have its bad habits to give us an example of what is displeasing to Him. Instead of slothfulness, we are instructed, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might [with all your energy]." Eccl. 9:1010Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. (Ecclesiastes 9:10). The Bible further says, "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." Prov. 19:1515Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. (Proverbs 19:15).
The sloth lives among the trees of the tropics where it hangs upside down most of the time with three sharp claws on each long leg gripping a leafy limb. There it is quite content to spend the day while it slowly munches on leaves, shoots or fruit within its reach. Because it seldom moves, it is well hidden from its enemies, since it looks like a bundle of leaves caught on a fork of the tree. It sleeps this way, too.
Only about once a week does it get any exercise. Then it climbs slowly down the tree trunk to the ground where it moves clumsily about, because its long, curved claws interfere with walking. It doesn't stay down very long and soon climbs back to its lazy way of life.
Unlike most other animals, the sloth never bathes and doesn't bother to groom itself. As a result its fur becomes the home of thousands of bugs, ticks, and moths and it even has mossy-like, tiny green plants growing on its back. All of this is a picture to us of how bad habits and laziness are used by Satan to make the ugly stains of sin that leave their mark on many people. But, thank the Lord, all who come to the Lord Jesus Christ can be washed from their sins. The Psalmist prayed, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psa. 51:77Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7). In 1 John we read the wonderful message; "The blood of Jesus Christ [God's] Son cleanseth us from all sin," and "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (chapter 1, verses 7 and 9).
Altogether, the sloth is a sad example of the result of laziness. How much better it is to please the Lord by obeying His request: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." Col. 3:2323And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Colossians 3:23).