Complacency
This are words that can change our lives. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in every circumstance; this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." This verse gives us clear instruction so we can be in the will of God. It’s not about hearing God’s word, it’s about doing what it says. We must hold onto His word through the daily trials that pressure us to abandon it. Our faith will be tested and tried. If we are not actively trying to live out God’s will, then we will forget it. If we examine our lives we should see the evidence of our failures, and our successes. Which brings us to the second verse that holds extraordinary promise; 1 Timothy 4:16 which says “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
In this life we have a mission, a purpose, and a reason for being. We are going somewhere! Jesus prayed that we would be one with Him, as He is one with the Father. Our mission is to seek this oneness with Jesus Christ, and if we pursue it with all our heart we will not be suprised when Christ returns, we will be looking for it. Our mission is to live on purpose, be about our Fathers business, and abide in Christ. Our mission is our why, it gives our life purpose and meaning. The "vision" is our how. How do we get where God is leading us, how do we reach the world around us with the good news of Jesus Christ, and how do we experience His power. How do we become his image in this world?
Often we will think we know the answers to these questions as we run full steam ahead, implementing whatever we think is best. We see God's love and we try, in our own strength, to do something for God. We can preach the truth without worshiping in Spirit and Truth. Like the church of Laodicea, it’s easy for us to trust in our own plan, resources, and ingenuity. It’s easy for us to think we know God's plan better than God does. So we try to do a work for God, apart from being a work of God. The Bible tells us we should “Seek first God’s kingdom and all the other things will take care of themselves. God’s will isn’t found by Him telling us every decision we should make, every second of the day, but by being who He has called us to be. When we abide in God’s will the pieces will fall into place. If we follow God by holding onto his word, we will become a church, not built by human hands, but built by God Himself.
If we are following our own vision for the church we’re not seeking God's vision, or God’s will, and that's complacency. We aren't trusting God to do anything when we’re serving from the strength of our own flesh. That’s Complacency. It’s the kryptonite of the church. Children who grow up in complacent churches, with complacent parents, will walk away from the church, because there’s no real power there. All they seen is a dead, and lifeless, religion. Why would they want what we say we have, if it doesn’t work for us? If we aren’t being set free, of what do we boast? Do we have better marriages? Are we better bosses, employees, and spouses? Is the word of God leading us to a better place than we can get to on our own, apart from the Spirit of God? We say, where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, but do our lives attest that we have the freedom that comes by abiding in God’s Spirit?
Zephaniah 1:12 ESV
“…I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.’”
Complacency is an attitude of the heart, that isn’t actively looking for God to do anything. We must ask ourselves what we are expecting from God, each week, as we go to work, play with our children, and as we attend church. Are we expecting to hear from God? Are we expecting healing? Are we expecting deliverance? Are we expecting discipline? Are we expecting to find more freedom then we’ve previously had? Maybe we’re just hoping the church service won't be boring? Do we expect anything from God? Hebrews 11:16 says that “Whoever comes to God must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.” Are we living in expectation of that reward, or have we fallen into complacency?
2 Peter 3:3-4 says, “…in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing, following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” Complacency is an attitude that believes, this is the way it's always been, and it's going to keep on being the way it always has.