October 26, 2026

Business by the Book

Proverbs 18:9  He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

The biggest part of the word “slothful” is sloth. “Slothful” means to be full of sloth. Whenever the word comes across my mind I think of crude box in a hog pen into which the hog food is thrown. It is an altogether negative word that should be shied away from in all forms. However it is used fifteen times in Scripture: evidently the Lord wants to warn of the dreadful effects of being slothful.

The wording of this verse has always intrigued readers. It says …slothful in his work… This is a person that has some work to do. They have a job. They are employed in some type of labor. Perhaps this person is an office worker, a factory worker, a construction worker, or a healthcare worker; this person may be self-employed, in ministry, or a government worker. But in their “work” they are slothful. While working they are like a sloth, the slow moving mammal from the jungles of Central and South America.

Slothful workers hinder production for other workers that many times have to cover for their slothfulness. Slothful workers never seem to have the time, or energy, to do the little things that make such a big difference in that which they do. Slothful workers are expert at doing things 80% or 90% but never quite finish the job to make it 100% complete. They leave their tools out for others to stumble over, after the job is over they fail to clean up the work area, or if they use the last of the copy paper in the copy machine they leave it to the next person to take the time to replenish the paper. Slothful workers always seem to think that someone else will take care of the details, then they wonder why they are seldom promoted.

Slothful workers are to business owners and managers that which knotholes are to the woodworker. They are there, and they have to be planned for, but they sure can make life miserable. Many fine works of wood have been weakened by knotholes, their beauty has been ruined by an ill placed knothole, and their finish is often rough in the area of the knothole when it should be satin smooth.

Wherever there is a team doing work the slothful will appear. They will take the same accolades that come to the group for a job well done but will suffer in the area of personal growth in the workplace because of their sloth. Promotion, success, advancement, elevations, and raises go to those who are not full of sloth, but rather perform their work energetically and complete their tasks thoroughly. Beware of sloth, it will ruin all long range hopes and dreams. A little sloth today will pay like dividends somewhere down the road.

Dr. William Howe