“Slacklings”

In addition to his South Carolina radio commentaries on money matters, Financial Planner Kevin Skipper hosts a spot called “Parent Care Minute.” (He’s well qualified to discuss this issue since he took responsibility for his mother and step-mother, both of whom were afflicted with dementia.) On one program he referred to “Slacklings”, which may be defined as siblings of caregivers who do little but say much. The term became part of our hospice team’s vocabulary as we saw this happen in many families we worked with, sometimes causing considerable relational tensions.

What happens in families is frequently evident among God’s people, whether in churches or other ministries. Slacklings in God’s family readily express their opinions about what need to be done but are nowhere to be found when it comes to doing it. (They seem to paraphrase Isaiah 6:8 as “Here am I. Send him/her.”) And how often do they find fault with those who are actually doing the work!

One of Scripture’s primary purposes is that God’s people “…may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:17). God has also gifted each of us for spiritual ministry (“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others….”—1 Peter 4:10). Putting these two passages together, there’s no excuse for any of us to be a slackling in the things of God. Peter also put it this way: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness….” (2 Peter 1:3). In other words, ALL of us have an obligation to do something.

Jesus set the example of serving others by washing His disciples’ feet (John 13) and giving His life for us (“…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”—Matthew 20:28). Wouldn’t God’s work take off if we all followed His example and there were more servlings and fewer slacklings? Which one am I?

Blessings!

Jim McMillan