The Danger Of Neglect

The Danger of Neglect

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

SCRIPTURE: - Hebrews 2:1-4 “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will”.

PRAYER: -

OPENING: - I came across this little saying in my studies on this week and I just had to use it. I do not know who originally said it, but it says “Neglect is my sin. It brings me nothing but sorrow. I know that I should stop it - In fact, I will… tomorrow! There are many people who find themselves in situations that could have been avoided if only the had not neglected to do something about it before it was too late.

It is not hard to understand that simply doing nothing is so dangerous in the natural physical realm as well as in the spiritual realm. Relationships fall apart because we do nothing to keep it together. We fail to realize that what we did to get them in the first place we must do to keep them. Unfortunately, many people don’t work at their relationship, and it suffers from neglect. A beautiful lawn or garden is destroyed by neglect weeds grow and choke out any beauty and life that was once possible. Your house will crumble around you if you neglect to take care of it. Neglect your health and sickness will overtake you and ultimately death will be knocking at your door. Proverbs 24:33-34 says, “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So, shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man”. This is dealing with neglect and the result it produces.

There is a story of a minister who started his sermon by leaning over the pulpit, and saying with great fervency and compassion, “Friends, I have a question to ask. I cannot answer it. You cannot answer it. If an angel from heaven were here, he could not answer it. If a devil from hell were here, he could not answer it”. The question is this, How, shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Well let me answer that question right here and now! The answer is, there is no way we will escape if we neglect such a great salvation.

Someone may ask the question escape what? Escape the judgment and wrath of God!

The Danger of Neglect.

Neglect according to Strong’s Greek 272 is from ameleo and means “a” = without + melo = to care for, to show concern, forethought or interest - it literally means without care and thus showing no concern. To be careless. To be unconcerned about or to care nothing for something or someone. It is to recognize but to ignore, to know but to fail to do, to admit but not to administer.

So great Salvation.

UNDERSTAND: - Salvation is a gift from God. Salvation cannot be earned but is received by faith. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. The result of salvation is eternal life! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Romans 6:23 adds, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

UNDERSTAND: - Salvation is the provision, the escape route that God has made for everybody to escape His judgment and wrath. He is Holy and He must judge sin in His appointed time. In judging sin He will punish sin, this is His wrath on sin and everything unholy. Salvation is the escape from His judgment and wrath. Salvation means more than we are saved, we shall go to heaven when we die. It means more than being religious, going to church, singing and praising God, reading the Bible or saying prayers. A wonderful picture of salvation is given in Luke 15:3-7 the parable of the lost sheep. The sheep had gone astray from the shepherd and the rest of the herd, scared, unhappy, wandering, lost and in danger alone in the wilderness; the shepherd left the other 99 sheep and searched for the lost sheep, when he found it, he picked up the lost sheep, placed it on his shoulder and bought it back into the safety of the herd. This is how salvation is, outside of Christ we are lost, lonely, hurt, depressed, confused, messed up, scared, lonely in the wilderness about ready to die. Salvation provides complete