The Sin of Apathy:

Apathy means, lack of interest, enthusiasm and concern.  This can show up in many different places.  Our place of work, our hobbies, and lastly in our relationships.  These relationships can be with significant others.  It can be with our friendships, and it can even be with our relationship with Jesus Christ, our Savior.   

Both in my daily devotional and at church, we have been talking about the term of apathy.  Apathy not only can show up in many different places, but it can also show up at a variety of different times.  It is important we are aware of the times it pops up, especially when it is with our relationship with Christ. 

Apathy shows up in the Bible very often.  In my devotional study through the book of Hebrews, the author is reminding the Christ followers and Jewish Christians in Rome to not become apathetic in their worship of God, but rather to stay strong, even in the face of persecution. The author of Hebrews, although the author is unknown, shows he understands how persecution hurts a believer and can easily take them away from the Lord.  When one is constantly being threatened or scorned, one can easily let fear, anger, or fatigue take over and take one away from the Lord. 

Then in church, we started going through the book of Nehemiah.  Nehemiah was a prophet during the time after the first Babylonian conquest of the Israelite people.  The Israelites had been released from their captivity; however, their city was still in ruins.  The temple had been rebuilt, but the rubble of the first temple and the walls was all over the city.  They didn’t build a new wall for protection.  Nehemiah saw the city and wept.  He didn’t see a people who were filled with pride for their land they received from the Lord.  He saw a group of people who were filled with apathy for what God had given back to them. 

Apathy is dangerous.  When a person is apathetic, especially when it comes to their relationships with Christ, there is a better chance, a person will fall away from their Lord.  Their apathy is opening up their hearts and minds to the temptations for the world.  This is because when we are not super on fire for God, there are other things that look appealing from the world.  There will be people who will tell us things that sound good, even when they are not good.  It is important we keep our mind and our passion on what God says to not become easily swayed.  

A verse about being apathetic is Revelation 3:15-16 which says, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot…So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth”.  This is an important conversation with God and his people.  He doesn’t enjoy the people who are not super passionate or devoted to him.  He would rather have someone who is cold and rejective of Him, than those who are Christians but are filled with apathy for the relationship.   

The challenge for the week is to spend time thinking about your heart.  Are you a person who is on fire for the Lord, or are you just a person who is semi-devoted?  Are you really all in when it comes to your relationship with God, or are you just so-so?  It is important to make sure our hearts are continuously in the right place, and the right stance before God.  This often takes a bit of probing or a bit of reminders on a regular basis.  

I know I personally need to be better about following God and being on fire.  I am good about doing my daily devotionals and going to church.  However, I don’t always go to God first when I am in a problem or a situation.  I will often only go to Him once or twice throughout the day.  I do go to Him about my problems, but I don’t necessarily always believe He will fix the problems or the solutions.  

Do not let the sin of Apathy take over your heart.  Again, this doesn’t just include the times with God, but rather this includes the times at work or in your other relationships.  Apathy can impact a lot of your different pieces of life.  Be reminded of this apathy and find ways to always ignite your passions and your love of different things.  I hope you continuously find the joy and the empathy for all the things going on in your life.