Let's Go Back to the Bible

Have You Become Complacent?

At the time of writing and publishing this article, the NHL playoffs are close to conclusion. As a hockey fan, it has been fun to watch teams push to do their best and to see close finishes to certain games. What can be extremely fun are the post-game interviews with players and coaches. One particular interview comes to mind that stunned those who were listening from home.

For context, throughout the regular season, a regulation win is worth two points in the team’s overall standings, whereas overtime losses are worth 1 point. This often motivates teams to push a close game to overtime in order to earn at least one point. In the playoffs, there are no standings or points, only a best of seven elimination. With this context, it is easy to understand why fans were outraged with a quote from a coach after back-to-back losses from his team, both in overtime: “Well, at least we got two points in the standings out of it.” It was confusing considering that is not how playoffs work, and made the coach seem to not care that his team was possibly going to be eliminated soon. Why  did he lack the urgency needed at such a crucial time?

While this interview can be something that gives us a laugh,  allow me to lead us to ponder something: Is it possible we have a similar attitude in the church? It is easy to fall under the temptation to sit back and be comfortable with where we are as a Christian. We could be studying our Bibles more, could be serving in various roles, etc. However, we become complacent and arrogantly think our work is good enough as is, and that we need not push ourselves to grow and mature. It is also possible as a non-Christian or a wayward Christian to lack the urgency needed to make our life right with God.

The Bible tells us that the “complacency of fools destroys them” (Prov. 1:32). “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Prov. 10:4).  May we not put on the attitude of a “fool” but rather an attitude modeling that of Paul’s writings in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

We do not know how much time we have (see 1 Thess. 5:2;  2 Pet. 3:10). There is much work to do for the Lord, and the time to do it is now! May we not waste our time on earth or ignore the urgency of our service to God! May we never become complacent but always strive to serve Him faithfully to the best of our ability each day!