What the Bible says about Indolence
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Amos 3:12 Amos refers to part of the Old Covenant: "If it is torn to pieces by an animal, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn" (Exodus 22:13). If a lamb was stolen from the flock, the shepherd had to repay the owner for it. If a lamb was attacked and devoured by a beast, however, he had to bring proof that he had not stolen it himself. He had to show evidence that what had previously existed had been destroyed. Whenever Israel is destroyed, the evidence of her demise will not be a leg or part of an ear, but bits of furniture like couches and beds. When others look for proof of this great nation's fate, they will find all the accouterments of opulence, luxury, self-indulgence, indolence—products of their self-concern and self-satisfaction. But they will find no effects of godly spirituality—righteousness, justice, and mercy. The illustration of the bed and couch may be an ironic reference to Israelite sexual exploits with temple prostitutes and other ritual sexual practices (Isaiah 57:3-9). Additionally, God shows Israel committing spiritual adultery by trusting in other nations rather than God (Isaiah 31:1-3), and the destroyed bed and couch would depict His destruction of the nation for her unfaithfulness. John W. Ritenbaugh Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part Two) Related Topics: Amos, Prophecies of | Evidence of Israel's demise | Indolence | Israel's Adultery | Israel's Unfaithfulness | Luxury | Luxury and Ease | Old Covenant | Self Concern | Self Satisfaction | Spiritual Adultery | Temple Prostitutes

Amos 6:4-6 What a picture of excess and uselessness! Like Babylon, these people live in indolent luxury, surrounding themselves with the latest creature comforts, overindulging in rich and expensive food and drink. A glass or a cup is not enough for them—they must drink wine from bowls to satisfy their addictions! They sing songs that mean nothing, but in their hearts they think their songs and music equal to David's! Life is a party! And all they have to show for their lives is a lack of judgment. John W. Ritenbaugh The World, the Church, and Laodiceanism Related Topics: Addictions | Babylon | Creature Comforts | Drink | Epicureanism | Excess | Food | Hedonism | Hedonistic Lifestyles | Indolence | Laodicean Attitude | Laodiceanism | Luxury | Music | Overindulgence | Spiritual Blindness | Worldliness

Amos 6:4-6 Amos 6:4-6 mentions feasting, indulging in artificial stimulation, listening to unusual music, and taking excessive and vain measures in personal hygiene. The single idea behind these illustrations is that the excesses of powerful Israelites were possible because of their oppression of the weak and poor. By contrast, verses 9-10 show ten common Israelites huddled together in one house in fear of the war-induced plagues. People will die so rapidly that the survivors, looking out for themselves, will not take the time to bury the bodies of their own families but burn them in huge funeral pyres. These survivors will eventually recognize that God has dissociated Himself from them, and they will consider it an evil thing even to mention His name! How very bitter! And how very far from God! The people, whether rich and indulgent or poor and deprived, were self-concerned. Throughout chapter six, Amos balances complacency and disaster, boasting and fear, showing that they result from rejecting God and idolizing self. Inevitably, God will send judgment upon Israel. John W. Ritenbaugh Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part One) Related Topics: Addictions | Artificial Stimulation | Complacency | Complacency, Moral | Creature Comforts | Drink | Epicureanism | Excess | Feasting | Food | God's Judgment | Hedonism | Hedonistic Lifestyles | Indolence | Israel's Worldliness | Luxury | Moral Complacency | Music | Oppression of Poor | Overindulgence | Self Centeredness | Self Idolization | Worldliness

1 Thessalonians 5:3 Undoubtedly, these people's minds were on what would happen to them, and similar things should be on our minds. We find out a little later that some of them had actually quit their jobs because they believed the return of Christ was so near. They were just going to wait it out. They were misinterpreting Paul's sermons. Do we think this cannot happen to Christians today? The biblical record is clear. These Thessalonians were going to wait idly. But time was rushing by, and Paul had to admonish them to get back on the job—both physically and spiritually. John W. Ritenbaugh Don't Be a Prudent Agnostic Related Topics: Idle, Learning to be | Idleness, Habit of | Indolence | Learning to be Idle | Prudent Agnostics | Vigilance | Welfare Mentality

 

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