John Piper Sermons What’s the Difference Between Sloth and Rest?
This new teaching by Pastor John Piper titled “What’s the Difference Between Sloth and Rest?” is what we are bringing to you to listen to and meditate on.
In this episode, Pastor John tries to distinguish for us the indulgence of sinful sloth from the virtue of true rest. Using the terms terms sluggard and diligent, because those terms are used in Proverbs. Now, the question is What’s the difference between the restfulness of the diligent and the laziness of the sluggard?
“The laziness of the sluggard is owing to his overpowering aversion to work. And the restfulness of the diligent is received as a gracious reward for the gift of God-glorifying work and a pleasant preparation for renewed productivity. Or let me say it another way: The laziness of the sluggard is a capitulation to his disinclination to exertion. And the restfulness of the diligent is a sweet compensation for God-honoring exertion, and thankful renewal for more usefulness.”
Taking us down now to the roots and take just a moment to focus on the problem of the sluggard, and then spend most of our time on the biblical vision of work that makes the restfulness of the diligence so sweet (1 Corinthians 6:12,)
Talking about the amazing roots of the diligent and the restfulness that they enjoy. At root, the basic difference between the sluggard and the diligent is that the sluggard feels work as a misery to be avoided, and the diligent sees work as a God-given, life-giving privilege.
It is the grace of God, pushing back the effects of the fall, that takes away anxiety and makes labor meaningful and sweet, and gives true restfulness. The New Testament adds to the motivations of the diligent that, when we work,
- we will have something not only for ourselves but to give others (Ephesians 4:28),
- we will not be a burden to others (2 Thessalonians 3:8),
- we will be a good example to unbelievers (1 Thessalonians 4:12), and
- we will let our light shine, so that people see our good deeds, our exertions, for the glory of God (Matthew 5:16).
The sluggard finds none of these motivations compelling.
Giving his summary once more: The laziness of the sluggard is owing to his overpowering aversion to work. And the restfulness of the diligent is received as a gracious reward for the gift of God-glorifying work and a pleasant preparation for renewed productivity.
Watch and learn from one of the sermons by Pastor John Piper for the year titled “What’s the Difference Between Sloth and Rest?” as we bring the latest sermons from pastors around the world to you daily.
Credit: John Piper YouTube/https://www.desiringgod.org