Idleness Leading to Apathy

“When we are most lazy, the devil is most busy”

Andrew Gray (1633-1656)

These two terms, apathy and idleness, are a danger to beware of. Particularly dangerous for Christians. Its a pit that we can fall into quickly if we do not guard our heart and hold tight to the teachings we learn from scripture.

Idleness is living in a constant state of being lazy and inactive. When we become idle we start to put off our christian duties out of laziness. Neglecting prayer, fellowship, reading of scripture. We start to place things before God and the responsibilities He requires of us.

Apathy is a lack of motivation, interest and concern. When we become apathetic as believers it harms our spiritual growth. I would imagine each of us has our times of being apathetic to God. Not having the same passion for Him, scripture, prayer, ect. We enter different “seasons” in our walk, and sometimes feeling disconnected and indifferent may be one of those terrible seasons.

Both are things we should be distressed about and keep a watchful eye out for. When we see that we have become lazy and aren’t concerned about putting in the effort to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Westminster catechism Q. 1) then we know we are failing at our chief end.

Ecclesiastes 10:18 reads “Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.”

Our laziness/idleness leads to spiritual gaps which the devil will use to his favor. A house left unkept will eventually suffer more and more problems with its structure until it finally falls due to rot. Putting off the important things and looking after the less important things will ruin a person’s house and their spiritual life.

At some point our laziness can turn into just not caring at all. Not just a lack of motivation while knowing what we are commanded, but having no more concern for the commands. At first we can become preoccupied with trivial things in life, placing them at them at the top of the to do list, then lose all care for the important things.

Our apathy will cause us to drift away. No more having a desire for God. The devil, having  his way, has helped fuel the flesh in us and we begin to grow cold.

Hebrews 2:1:3 reads “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him“

This apathetic attitude towards God may be a sign that one never was part of the sheepfold.  They enjoyed a taste of the graces of God given to the invisible church while being part of a visible church but were never truly converted. The heart of stone has remained and they deceived ourselves. The person becomes more and more like they were before they had a small taste of the graces of God, and sin in their life begins to increase with no thought about it.

“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. “(Matthew 24:10–14)

We have many warnings of becoming idle. We need to take careful examination of our lives and make sure we never let laziness set it and take root. Take the words of Paul to heart when he says “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you— unless indeed you fail the test” 2 Cor 13:5.

A warning: Proverbs 24:30-34 “I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

An exhortation: 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”