Complacency and laziness are two of the deadliest enemies we face in our walk with Jesus. There are more insidious and despicable foes that will come our way, but none are more dangerous and deceptive than complacency and laziness. They sneak up on you with stealth-like wonder and infest themselves throughout your entire body. Complacency says we’ve “prayed the prayer” or “live life as a good person”. We’re good. We can coast from here. Complacency is fed by those who teach that our works don’t matter when it comes down to it. As long as we believe in Jesus we’re safe. Laziness is the close companion of complacency. It convinces you that it’s okay to spend a few extra hours sleeping or eating or watching television. After all, the world will still be there when we’re done. Meanwhile children starve, families are homeless, and people die faced with an eternity separated from the God who loves them.
Too much of what seems harmless to us has consequences of a magnitude we can hardly imagine. While we enjoy our comfort and security, the spiritual war that wages around us continues to claim victims at an alarming rate. Is it we just don’t care if people die and go to Hell or that we are too complacent or lazy to notice? We can make all the excuses we wish, but our actions tell the true story. After all, we are what we do, not what we say.
Each of one of us has been uniquely crafted by the hands of God, gifted with a unique set of passions and talents so that we might impact our world with the love of Jesus. We were designed to reflect the glory of God and the truth of His character. It’s not good enough to drift through life. It’s absolutely unacceptable for a follower of Jesus to not live their life with a passion and intention to make the Kingdom of God a reality here on earth. If you want something easier or more palatable to your own selfish desires, you need a different god. The God of all creation who loves beyond measure also has an inextinguishable zeal for maintaining His integrity and character. I think He overlooks all failures except for the failure to try. If Jesus isn’t worth giving your best effort, then nothing ever will be.
True followers of Jesus are neither complacent nor lazy. They are devoted to following Jesus with everything they’ve got, and to do it until they no longer have breath in their lungs. They don’t know what it means to quit or take some time off. Only one thing matters and that is Jesus. Jesus was never lazy or complacent. He had a mission, a purpose that drove Him always forward. Every follower of Jesus has the same mission. Each of us has a purpose. It won’t be accomplished by sleeping more or watching life go by. We must be intentional, get out of our seats, and pursue our Savior with all of our mind, strength, and soul. (Luke 10:27).