Idleness of Christianity

With 2017 coming to end, it's a common practice to review what you accomplished during the year.  Often times we start the year with certain goals and resolutions that soon become a disinterest to us. We can become idle and lazy when it comes to goals and resolutions that are difficult to accomplish and do not give us instant satisfaction. Once we give up altogether on the resolution, we look back over the year frustrated that we did not accomplish what we set out to do in the beginning of the year.  We tend to have a way of thinking that once the current year ends, and the new year begins we can pick right back up on accomplishing the resolution, as if a new year automatically means a new us. The same idleness can be said for our relationship with God. We become casual in our relationship with God throughout the year. We read our Bibles with no desire for God and no intention on building a real relationship with Him. We go to church out of habit, with no praise in our hearts, making us just a spectator of the church service rather than participating in worship, making us unaware of the Holy Spirit in the atmosphere. As Christians called to do God's work and to be a unified body of believers on fire for God, we can no longer be idle in our relationship with God. In fact, being idle in your relationship with God causes things in your life to no longer function correctly. Ecclesiastes 10:18 states; "because of your laziness the building decays, and the through idleness of the hands the house leaks.  Sadly, we usually are so focused on worldly resolutions that we forget to focus on our relationship with God and what He wants us to accomplish.

When I think about the times that I have been idle in my relationship with God, it usually occurs during the seasons of my life that God was pruning me for what He had planned for my life. There are times were God is going to make you feel uncomfortable in order to prepare you for what He has in store for you. However, it is during these pruning and preparing moments that we become uncomfortable and turn our back on God, wanting to stay right were we are spiritually and not mature. When we become comfortable in our routine, we have a tendency to make God a routine as well. We become lukewarm Christians where we spend time with God out of habit, and in turn put Him in a box were we don't experience new wonders and experiences from God. But God is not calling us to be lukewarm Christians. In fact, us being lukewarm Christians is upsetting to God. In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus is talking to the three churches concerning being a lukewarm Christian, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth".  As believers in Christ it is our job to be on fire for God, and to make a clear distinction from our actions and works to the actions and works of the people that are still living in darkness. We have to know that being uncomfortable in what God is calling us to do, is usually a season of growth and takes steps towards God's purpose for our lives. I know each and every day when I think about what God has told me my life purpose is, I instantly feel uncomfortable. However, during the end of my times on earth I want to hear God say "Well done, good and faithful servant", and so I must continue to push and draw closer to God during those uncomfortable times.

And so I challenge myself and you as well to be on fire for God in 2018. To go deeper into his word, and to accomplish the goals that He has for you, and not selfish self-made resolutions that don't last. I challenge you to serve others both in the church and out in community, and to fully praise His name no matter who is looking at you. In 2018, it's so important that we surrender to God's will and to serve Him faithfully, no longer being a lukewarm Christian. And remember it doesn't take a new year to serve God faithfully, He's always waiting for you to turn back to Him!

With Love,

Courtney Neal