Dangers of Complacency

by Dale Harcombe | More from this Blogger

Are you comfortable in your life? Have you reached a point where things seem to be going along well, where you think you've done enough and can afford to slack off a little? This passage in Isaiah 32 highlights the dangers of complacency. What a blessing righteous and just government is, verse 1. It brings peace and security verse 2. Ultimately, this will only come about when Jesus reigns. His kingdom will be one of perfect righteousness. Those who have been blind will see the truth clearly. Those who hear will actually listen, verse 3. They will discern the truth, verse 4. There are those today who have already come to this point, because they have accepted the truth and responded to Jesus. Is this a picture of you and me when we read God's Word? Do we see the truth? Do we hear what God is saying to us?

When Jesus rules, people will not be deceived any longer. God's ways will be upheld. The rogue, who currently deceives so much of our world, will be uncovered for what he is - evil, verse 7. His weapons are slander, lies and wicked schemes. We only have to look at our current world situation to see evidence of that. As believers, we know where they all come from - 'the father of lies,' John 8:44. In contrast the noble man's plans are noble.

Isaiah then goes on to warn and chastise the worldly woman at ease, the 'complacent daughters' verse 9. Complacency is a dire disease. It is so easy to slip into a pattern of laziness and simply not care or not see the point of doing things. We must be on guard against complacency in the Christian life. We must never be content, thinking we have done enough in serving God. We must never think it won't matter if we don't read our Bible for a day. What happen is one day easily becomes two, becomes a week, a month, and before you know it, it is easier to drift along rather than get back into spending that time with God.

I had to be particularly wary of this, while my arm was in plaster. Used to writing down my responses to a bible passage and also my prayers, I found it particularly frustrating to not be able to do so. I found I was not getting as much out of my bible reading and prayer time. It would have been so much easier to pick up a novel and read it, something that didn't require any response from me. Easier to think I'd just waive the bible reading and prayer, till I could get back into my usual practice. God showed me, by then it would be too late. I needed to keep reading His Word and thinking about it. Even if I didn't feel I was getting as much out of it, my habit of daily bible reading and prayer needed to be maintained. Yes, I found it harder to keep my focus but it was better than letting bible reading and prayer slide all together, before it had a chance to become a habit and a way of life. I feel far happier now the cast is off and I can respond to God's Word and what God is teaching me each day.

God promises things will get worse before they get better, verses 12-14. Sometimes it is like that in our lives too. But then He promises, the Spirit will be poured out, 'the wilderness becomes a fertile field' and justice and righteousness will abide, bringing peace, verses 15 -17. Verse 18 describes how my husband and I feel since we have moved. God has brought us to a peaceful, relaxed area. We feel extremely blessed to live here.Now we're asking God to show us the role or roles of service He has for us in our new church and community,so we do not let complacency or idleness dominate our days.
What about you? How are you serving God right where you are? Or are you like the women of Jerusalem, complacently at ease? Remember complacency can too easily become a habit.