Social Loafing
Gravity – Week 2: Social Loafing
In week two of the Gravity series, Pastor Mike Wilson addressed a reality we all feel but rarely name—the constant pull of the world, our flesh, and spiritual resistance that drags us away from what God calls us to do. Just like physical gravity pulls our bodies down, spiritual gravity pulls our souls toward selfishness, complacency, and distraction.
Mike opened the message with a relatable metaphor: gravity doesn’t pull us to the gym or to our to-do list—it pulls us to the couch. In the same way, the gravity of our flesh pulls us away from the disciplines and responsibilities of our faith.
Who’s Pulling the Rope?
We often want to blame Satan for our failures, but Pastor Mike reminded us of a critical truth:
“The devil can’t make you do anything. He tempts you in the direction you already want to go.”
Referencing Galatians 5:17, he explained that our sinful nature and the Spirit are at odds with each other:
“The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.”
These opposing forces wage a daily war in every believer, and it’s not just Satan’s fault when we stumble—we also deceive ourselves. As James 1:22 puts it:
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Social Loafing in Our Faith
The main concept of the message centered around social loafing, a psychological term for the tendency people have to put in less effort when they’re in a group.
Using a study involving tug-of-war participants, Pastor Mike illustrated how group effort doesn’t always equal individual maximums added together. People tend to pull with less strength when they know others are also pulling. Why? Because someone else will do the hard work.
This social tendency shows up in the Church too. There’s a popular saying:
“10% of the people do 90% of the work.”
Mike pushed back against this gravitational pull of “let someone else do it,” encouraging everyone in the congregation to recognize that we are the Church—all of us together.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan: Resisting Selfishness
To further illustrate spiritual laziness, Pastor Mike taught from Luke 10:25–37, the story of the Good Samaritan. In this parable, a man is left beaten on the road. A priest and a Levite—religious leaders—walk by without helping. It’s the Samaritan, the unexpected outsider, who shows mercy.
Jesus asked in verse 36,
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The religious expert replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus then said, “Go and do likewise.”
The Samaritan resisted the gravitational pull of selfishness and chose compassion. Pastor Mike connected this to our own lives:
“Don’t wait for somebody else to do what God has positioned you to do.”
Gillette and the Church: Called for a Reason
Pastor Mike shared insight into the culture of Gillette, Wyoming, where many people move “temporarily” but never fully invest in the community or their calling. He challenged listeners not to live passively but to step into God’s purpose with conviction.
“If God has you in Gillette, He has you here for a reason.”
Trap 1: Let Someone Else Do it
Trap 2:
Mike warned of two extremes:
Passivity – letting others carry the load of ministry, generosity, and service.
Overcontrol – believing you have to do everything yourself to be good enough.
Both are deceptions, rooted in pride or insecurity.
Giving and Tithing: A Test of Trust
Mike turned toward a tangible expression of faith—giving. He described trends in church tithing, especially how giving ironically dips when sermons on giving are preached.
Why? It’s often a mix of self-protection, skepticism, and the social loafing mindset—someone else will give. He reminded us of Luke 21:1–4, where Jesus celebrates the widow’s two small coins over the rich people’s larger, less sacrificial gifts.
“No one of us can be the Church. All of us are the Church.”
Generosity is not about the amount; it’s about trust and obedience.
You Weren’t Saved by Works—You’re Not Sanctified by Them Either
Toward the end of the message, Pastor Mike brought it back to grace. Just as we are saved by grace and not works, we are also sanctified—transformed—by surrender, not self-effort.
“The gravitational pull of your sinful nature is not something you can overcome with more strength. You need more surrender.”
He pointed to the act of communion as a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made—how Jesus didn’t just “help” us; He saved us. We don’t earn salvation, and we can’t earn growth. We trust, obey, and surrender.
Final Encouragement
To all who feel weighed down by guilt, shame, sin, or spiritual stagnation, Mike closed with a tender reminder: If you will allow Him to, He will change you.
Key Scriptures:
Galatians 5:17
James 1:22
Luke 10:25–37
Romans 14:22–23
Luke 21:1–4
Did you like Gravity – Week 2 – Social Loafing? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.
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Messages: 5
Perfectionism
Ease/Comfort
Social Loafing
