Don’t Slack Off!

Aug 25, 2025

The slow descent to utter chaos

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The one who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys.

Proverbs 18:9 (NET)

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I memorized this verse recently because I struggle with laziness.

Sure, I could put together all kinds of “reasons” (excuses) for why I’m often lazy. Some stemming from perfectionism, some from paralysis-analysis; but at the end of the day, it’s always a choice I’m making.

Choosing the comfortable thing now instead of the reward of discipline later.

Which often means choosing suffering later.

This proverb is harsher than that.

Probably a little hyperbolic in language in order to get the point through my extra-thick skull: a habit of slacking off is almost the same as active destruction.

Perhaps twin brothers?

I don’t know, but it’s a dire warning. It’s one thing to think about the slow decay of things due to laziness. A little mess here, and unkempt room there. It all starts to pile up and soon worse problems spring up. Maybe bugs get involved, maybe other pests. Maybe someone gets hurt.

It’s much easier to see active destruction.

One minute a thing is structurally sound and then — WHAM! — broken.

The outcome is basically the same: brokenness.

I find that even my work plans unravel throughout the week. What was confident and organized on Monday has become chaotic by Friday. I must spend maintenance to bring things back into order.

Maintaining order takes work. Either a lot of work all at once, or consistent little daily work.

Daily discipline is the better path, but don’t be afraid to spend a few hours organizing the chaos if that’s what’s required.

All this applies to our spiritual lives too.

— Ricky Ketchum

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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