"The Bread of Idleness"

The word “bread” and its synonyms are used often throughout the Scriptures. It was Jesus who said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:48). It was also Jesus who said, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6).

What did Jesus mean when He made these statements? First of all, in John’s account, Jesus is making reference to the essential nature of bread. A person who lives life without bread will be extremely weak and will very likely die. Bread is essential. In essence, Jesus is saying, “I am essential to life.”

In the second passage, Jesus refers to the leaven which is in bread. What does leaven do? It spreads throughout the entire flour mixture and causes the bread to expand and rise. So again, as he warns of two dangerous theological groups, Jesus is saying, “Beware of their doctrine spreading and infecting all of you.”

This all brings us to an important aspect of the real passage under examination. As we read of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 we find an interesting phrase in verse 27, “She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Go back to the earlier explanations of the word “bread” and its synonyms and consider this passage.

Again, “bread” is “essential, a necessary component of a healthy life.” Its synonym, “leaven” is an “infectious agent, which spreads throughout the entire loaf.” So, the real question we are asking is this—What are the essential, infectious components of an idle woman? What will be the accompanying consequences be of one who is idle?

An idle woman will be unfruitful.
In fact, this is what the word means. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, ARGOS “denotes inactive, idle, unfruitful, barren.” Instead of progressing forward, this person is regressing. This is the very opposite of the Christian ethic.

Yet, one important aspect to notice is that an idle person does not have to be lazy. There is a difference. A person can be at work all day long and be unfruitful. An individual can be awake all day and night and still be unfruitful. Some folks can talk until the cows come home without having ever said anything that has aided in progress. Though “idleness” can refer to the slothful person it does not always imply such. Instead, consider the nature of idleness.

Idle people are busy in the wrong works.
There is an interesting contrast used in 1 Timothy 5:13, “And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.” It sure does look like these idle folks were busy. Yet, they were idle when it came to progressing as Christian women.

There are many women who stay busy talking on the telephone all day or visiting their Christian friends. There is no disputing the fact they are busy. Yet, they are idle because they are not busy in their own business. They are not busy in the Lord’s work. Instead, they are “busybodies!” They are busy nosing into everyone else’s business, talking behind their back and causing strife. Instead, Paul encourages some better qualities in women, “Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully” (1 Timothy 5:14).

Paul seems to be saying that when we mind our own business and run our own homes we stay away from the temptation of idleness. He encourages the same thing to the Christians at Thessalonica. Instead of being nosy and noisy about everyone else, they should be quiet and mind their own business. “But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12).

Idle people are busy with the wrong words.
There may be nothing more dangerous than someone without responsibility. Of course, the Lord gives us many responsibilities. Still, it is usually because we are ignoring these duties that we get busy saying the wrong things.

A woman who spends her spare time in prayer for others stays away from the dangers of gossip (Hebrews 13:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). A woman who is busy teaching her children about the Scriptures keeps herself from the temptation of being worthless in her words (2 Timothy 3:14,15). A woman who is busy offering praise and godly instruction to others will keep herself from a world of criticism (Titus 2:3-5).

Jesus had sharp words for those who had idle words. He said, “But I say to you that for every idle word that men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). The text in James seems to complement Jesus’ statement quite well, “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:14-18).

Do you know of those who constantly complain, try to rally support for “their side” of the issue or who boast and seek self-satisfaction? This should not be the Christian’s attitude. Similarly, do you know those who talk all of the time about every issue but the Lord? They have no problem talking about sports, politics, the weather or themselves. Somehow though, they never talk about the goodness of the Lord. This talk and these words leave us at the same point spiritually with others as when we started. We have sat idle. The engine has been running, but we are in neutral. It is wasteful. It is futile. It is vain. Instead, we should be striving to make peace with our neighbors, help them by our good works and use our conversation with the progress of the Lord’s church in mind.

Idle people are busy starving their souls.
An individual unwilling to busy themselves in good deeds, good words and a good life is one that does not realize the role God has given them. It is an indication that our mind is still on the world and our soul is still sitting in despair. Proverbs 19:15 says, “An idle person will suffer hunger.”

Truly, we are idle when we are between gears. We cannot make our mind up for one or the other. James says, “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Paul wrote to the Romans, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).

Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30). Are you for? Against? Or neither?

Friends, Jesus is asking you to choose a gear. He is not pleased with the “lukewarm” individual. Mediocrity is not the ideal for which we strive. Instead, he expects us to advance his gospel by our works, words and honest souls. The virtuous woman’s essential character was not to be the deadly poison of an idle, non-progressive life. Rather, she was to busy herself in the right things. This is more than just being busy—it’s being busy in what the Lord wants us to be and do!

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