Being Lackadaisical Is Not Diligence
None who have read or studied the Bible can likely forget the congregation at Laodicea in Rev 3:14-22. Most will correctly identify the congregation that met there as “lukewarm” as is pointed out in verse 15. We also read of a “claim” made by them in verse 17. This claim was as they (the church that met there) saw themselves. Their claim to be “rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” indicated complacency. This is a sin that affects many who have “put on Christ”, and at one time had committed themselves to God. As we read the latter part of verse 17, how did the Lord see them? He said: “and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”
Because of their sad state, the Lord counselled them to return to the Word and examine themselves (anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see). They needed to know their true disorders so they would know they needed the Lord’s assistance to rectify their condition. Hopefully, they would heed the Lord’s instructions. In verse 19, the Lord stated: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” The rebuke and the admonishment from His Word is to do what is right. The chastening of the Lord is not some physical malady, some tragic event, or something of that nature that God uses to instruct or correct. God deals with man through His Word. Hebrews 12:5-15 deals with the chastisement God provides for those who are His children – those that have obeyed the gospel, having been baptized into Christ. True, just as the physical chastisement we received of our earthly parents was not “joyous” (I know of no one who looked forward to a paddling or punishment), but it was for our good. The same is true of the chastisement God’s children receive through the Word.
Hebrews 12:13 directs the child of God to “make straight paths for your feet”. Verse 14 instructs to “follow peace with all men and holiness”, and verse 15 commands the Christian to be “looking diligently”. The lackadaisical Christian is doing none of these and will lose his/her soul.
But this does not have to be. God’s Word provides the encouragement and spiritual support a Christian needs. He encourages His children to be strong. Christians are adjured to “stand fast” no less than six times in five different epistles. Two different congregations and one man were told to “be strong” (1Cor 16:13, Eph 6:10, & 2Tim 2:1). In one of these, the congregation was told to “quit you like men”. This is not an expression we use today, but in that context and used that way, according to the King James Bible Dictionary, means to clear oneself of incumbent duties by full performance. This doesn’t sound lackadaisical does it? No, It’s not! It requires diligence and God does not want those who are lazy or slothful to serve Him.
God wants those who are committed and dedicated to Him to serve Him. We are not to be as the congregation of Ephesus, who, at the time of the penning of the Revelation, had “left their first love”. According to Rev 2:2-3, they had labor, and patience, and could not bear evil. They had also “tried” those who claimed to be apostles and found them to be liars. But these brethren were not totally committed to God, because in verse 4, the Lord said, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, . . . “ Yes, leaving one’s “first love” (which is to be love for God and Christ above all other things) is not diligence. Neither is it dedication or commitment.
Lackadaisical by definition is: a lazy, careless, or half-hearted approach, showing a lack of enthusiasm, determination, and energy toward tasks or life. Is not seeking God, the kingdom, and the righteousness of God (Matt 6:33) to be the greatest task of life? Will a half-hearted approach suffice? Contrast the above definition of Lackadaisical with that of diligence. Diligence defined is: careful and persistent work or effort. The two are diametrically opposed. Therefore, one cannot be diligent and lackadaisical at the same time. Is it any wonder the Spirit had the apostle Paul, in Phil 2:12b, to pen in the epistle to the congregation in Philippi to “. . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”?
Of course, this doesn’t mean we can choose how we want to serve God and to what degree. Jer 10:23 states “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” This is why God has, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, according to 2Pet 1:3-4, given His New Testament children “all things that pertain unto life and godliness”, as well as “exceeding great and precious promises”. Oh how wonderful it would be that more would be like Cornelius of Acts 10:33b who diligently gathered friends and family and said, “Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.”
This is the attitude God wants of all who seek to serve Him, especially those who have obeyed the gospel and have become Christians. In Eph 6:13, the Spirit had Paul tell those of that congregation (& us by extension), to “take unto you the whole armour of God”, and “having done all, to stand” that we might “withstand in the evil day”. “Doing all” takes commitment, diligence, persistence, and perseverance. Verses 14-18 give an inspired description of all the tools God has provided in His Word so that His children won’t become lackadaisical. Will you not seek to become a child of God through obedience to the gospel today? If you are a child of God, seek to be diligent in faithful service to Him. Learn “all” of what God desires of you in His Word. Don’t be lackadaisical, be diligent according to His Word. Be pleasing to God and prepare for eternity with Him.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
