Answering The Call (Part 2) Series

Answering The Call (Part II)

Consequences of Complacency

2 Samuel 11:

1 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house.

And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.

3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.

God anointed David as king many years before God actually made him ruler of Israel. During those years David suffered greatly and his faith was tested. He first had to be patient and wait on God. Added to his patience in waiting for the Lord, he also was tested by the reigning king, Saul. Several times, Saul hunted David like an animal to kill him so his own son could inherit the throne. When David finally became king, the kingdom was divided and he had to wait for God to establish his throne and give the people confidence in his authority. The enemies of Israel were strong, so David's early years as king were in battle as he defeated every enemy that threatened the people.

Once the kingdom was secure and everything was going smoothly, David fell into a trap that many Christians fall into - complacency. When David had a purpose and his goal was in sight, he led the charge into battle. When David got at ease and lost focus on his goal, he no longer lead the charge. He took it for granted that God would give him these victories and he let others do the work while he sat idly. It was during this idle time that temptation crept in the door. When he should have been at the forefront, he was on the backseat without focus or a purpose. When he saw the woman bathing, he did not turn away but allowed temptation to become his new focus.

Anyone can give into temptation, but when we have no focus or direction, we become especially vulnerable to temptation. When I find my purpose in God's plan, a goal to fulfill my calling, and my passion is to fulfill that calling, my focus remains on Jesus Christ and that plan for my life. It is hard for temptation to stop me and change my direction in a way that is contrary to my goal. When I am sitting idle, anything that comes along will be of interest. One of the schemes of the devil is to catch us at the moment when we feel the lag. Many times I get focused on something and I pursue it with all my heart and God blesses my efforts. Once I accomplish my short-term goal, if I don't also have a long-term goal I will have a let down. It is these times that I am especially vulnerable. This is one reason why we see so many people get heavily involved in ministry and suddenly they quit and often drop out of church completely. They were either focused on 'what's in it for me' or they were focused on the immediate goal and have no focus on God's complete plan for their life.

Rest verses complacency

Let me stop for a moment and explain what I mean by complacency. We all need down time. Recreation time is not wasted time. Family time is not wasted time. God calls us to have a balanced life. We all need to stop and rest. It is when rest or recreation becomes our focus and the purpose we live for that we fall into trouble. God does not call us to leave our families behind; He calls us to put Him first and take our families with us. We are called to be leaders by doing so that our families can be directed by our actions and not just our words. One of the greatest ministry opportunities we can have is to disciple our kids. It is just as wrong to neglect your family as it is to make your household the extent of your focus. Look at Psalm 127:

Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.