The Spiritually Lazy Saint
Let us
consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together¡K ¡X Hebrews 10:24-25
We are all capable of being spiritually lazy saints. We want to stay off
the rough roads of life, and our primary objective is to secure a peaceful
retreat from the world. The ideas put forth in these verses from Hebrews 10 are
those of stirring up one another and of keeping ourselves together. Both of
these require initiative¡X our willingness to take the first step toward
Christ-realization, not the initiative toward self-realization. To live a
distant, withdrawn, and secluded life is diametrically opposed to spirituality
as Jesus Christ taught it.
The true test of our spirituality occurs when we come up against
injustice, degradation, ingratitude, and turmoil, all of which have the
tendency to make us spiritually lazy. While being tested, we want to use prayer
and Bible reading for the purpose of finding a quiet retreat. We use God only
for the sake of getting peace and joy. We seek only our enjoyment of Jesus
Christ, not a true realization of Him. This is the first step in the wrong
direction. All these things we are seeking are simply effects, and yet we try
to make them causes.
¡§Yes, I think it is right,¡¨ Peter said, ¡§¡Kto stir you up by reminding
you¡K¡¨ (2 Peter 1:13). It is
a most disturbing thing to be hit squarely in the stomach by someone being used
of God to stir us up¡X someone who is full of spiritual activity. Simple active
work and spiritual activity are not the same thing. Active work can actually be
the counterfeit of spiritual activity. The real danger in spiritual laziness is
that we do not want to be stirred up¡X all we want to hear about is a spiritual
retirement from the world. Yet Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of
retirement¡X He says, ¡§Go and tell My brethren¡K¡¨ (Matthew 28:10).
(Taken from Oswald Chambers ¡V ¡§My Utmost
for His Highest¡¨ July 10)