Have you ever gotten bored or restless and located yourself happening the flawed path? That’s the thought behind the favored saying, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”
Think about it—kids, left to their very own plans and without much responsibility, will often turn to mischief “simply because.” Adults with an excessive amount of time on their hands often overindulge with food, drink, and other fleshly pleasures. Think about that bowl of popcorn next to you at a movie—we frequently mindlessly snack after we’re not likely listening to our actions or their consequences.
An “idle mind” is a mind that’s without work, purposeless, perhaps lazy. The Bible has much to say a few mind left to rot, unattended, and without purpose or direction. The notion of a “devil’s workshop” is a spot that could be a haven for evil, where Satan and his demons can work and play, stirring up trouble and damaging what God holds dear.
The essence of this saying is a warning: we must work to maintain our minds focused and energetic in things of God to avoid being liable to the wily plans of the evil one.
But where did the saying, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” come from? Is it within the Bible?
Let’s take a look at its origins and what it means for Christians today.
Is “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop” within the Bible?
While this exact phrase will not be within the Bible, there are quite a few passages that reflect this truth. However, one personal paraphrased version of the Bible, The Living Bible (TLB), authored by Kenneth N. Taylor and published in 1971, does contain this phrase verbatim. A paraphrased Bible is more of a commentary on the text of Scripture than an accurate translation of what the text says. However, these paraphrased versions are still considered helpful for Christians, especially when understanding complicated passages. (The Message Bible, authored by Eugene Petersen, is one other example of a paraphrased Bible.) Proverbs 16:27, in keeping with The Living Bible, warns,
“Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.”
Other versions of the Bible have that proverb as noting, “An ungodly man digs up evil, And it’s on his lips like a burning fire” (NKJV) or “A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is sort of a scorching fire” (ESV).
The general meaning, nevertheless, the precise wording, is identical: one who’s ungodly or worthless, who has an idle and purposeless mind, plans and speaks things that evoke destructive fire—things of the fiery pits of hell.
Does this truth appear elsewhere within the Bible?
Other passages within the Bible, while not stating this in precisely these words, reflect the identical idea. For example, Proverbs 18:9 tells us, “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys” (ESV).
In his letter to the church in Thessalonica, the apostle Paul criticizes those that cultivate idleness, telling them,
“For we hear that some amongst you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:11
Paul says much the identical in his letter to Timothy, calling out individuals with an excessive amount of time on their hands and never enough godly work to do. He notes, “Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to deal with, and never only idlers but in addition gossips and busybodies, saying what they mustn’t” (1 Timothy 5:13).
Other examples include Proverbs 6:12, which says, “A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech.”
Ecclesiastes 10:18 warns, “Through sloth the roof sinks in, and thru indolence the home leaks.”
And the prophet Ezekiel describes the evil ways of the Sodomites, whom God destroyed: “She and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but didn’t aid the poor and needy” (Ezekiel 16:49).
The point is evident: Those whose minds will not be occupied, particularly by things of the Lord, shall be crammed with the things of the evil one, namely selfishness and destruction.
Where else can we discover “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”?
The notion that laziness and an occupied mind can result in evil is present in other writings beyond the Bible. St. Jerome, an early Christian priest, theologian, and Bible translator who established a monastery in Bethlehem within the fourth century, famously penned the recommendation, “Engage in some occupation in order that the devil may all the time find you busy.”
Later, around 1405, the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer included the saying in “The Tale of Melibee,” a part of The Canterbury Tales, noting, “And due to this fact says Saint Jerome, `Do some good deeds that the devil, which is our enemy, not find you unoccupied.’”
How can an idle mind be the devil’s workshop?
We know that Satan is all the time searching for ways to be on the attack and tempt us away from the Lord. In 1 Peter 5:8, the apostle Peter urges us to be sober-minded and watchful: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour.”
We are open to attack after we will not be actively protecting our minds. For instance, after we hold onto anger and grudges and refuse to supply forgiveness to another person, we’re allowing the devil to get a foothold in our hearts and harden us (Ephesians 4:26-27). When we surround ourselves not with other Christians but with individuals who deceive, mislead, and negatively influence us, we’re not effectively safeguarding our hearts. The Bible encourages us to avoid “bad company,” which might potentially destroy our morals (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Or perhaps we’re inadvertently resulting in the corruption of another person. For instance, perhaps we will find God’s goodness and truth in secular music or movies, but a friend who will not be as spiritually mature may not be quite there yet and, due to this fact, liable to going astray. As 1 Corinthians 8:9 urges, allow us to not change into “a stumbling block to the weak.”
What can we do to maintain our minds from idleness?
Sin often begins inside our own minds. We must work to safeguard ourselves as Jesus urges in Matthew 18:7-9, “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it’s needed that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And in case your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is healthier so that you can enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the everlasting fire. And in case your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is healthier so that you can enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fireplace.” We must train our hearts and minds to give attention to the Lord and his path. As urged in Philippians 4:8, let’s take into consideration
“whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is gorgeous, whatever is commendable, if there’s any excellence, if there’s anything worthy of praise.”
We should train ourselves to remain diligent within the Lord’s work. As Paul urges in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, “Now we command you, brothers, within the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you simply steer clear of any brother who’s walking in idleness and never in accord with the tradition that you simply received from us. For you, yourselves, understand how you should imitate us because we weren’t idle after we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we may not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we would not have that right, but to provide you in ourselves an example to mimic. Even after we were with you, we might provide you with this command: If anyone is unwilling to work, let him not eat.”
Other Scriptures urge us to devote ourselves to prayer (Ephesians 6:18) and to placed on the armor of God as protection against the evil one (Ephesians 6:11)—God’s truth, faith, Word, and more.
As we’re reminded in Proverbs 4:23,
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Not all bad things occur because someone’s mind is idle. Sometimes, evil is intentional. But other times, it does occur because we will not be vigilant enough to guard our tender souls from corruption.
So let’s remain occupied within the Lord so God can use us as his instrument and for his purpose—not the devil.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Wavebreakmedia
LISTEN: How to Have “Inexpressible Joy” Even While You’re Suffering
1 Peter is a book of the Bible all about enduring suffering and trials, and even finding joy within the midst of them. This joy is intriguing since it’s mentioned within the context of suffering and trials, difficult us to grasp how we will experience such profound joy amidst difficulties. Let’s dive into 1 Peter with Nicole Unice, host of the How to Study the Bible podcast, and learn learn how to grab inexpressible joy, regardless of what you are facing.
The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and don’t necessarily reflect the views or positions of Salem Web Network and Salem Media Group.
Video stock video and music probided by SoundStripe
