Use It Or Lose It

USE IT OR LOSE IT

The Law of Atrophy at Work

INTRODUCTION

A. As I drive along, observing the sights of the countryside and see houses with roofs caving in, windows broken out, and all the other signs of abandonment, I am pained. Once people lived there, children may have played there, the supper table may have been filled with laughter.

B. Is the abandonment the result of financial failure, divorce, sickness, death, laziness, or some other reason? (Prov 24:30-34)

C. Some lives are in shambles, just like those houses, and we know the cause: “The law of atrophy,” (a wasting away or progressive decline).

I. FOUR THINGS WE MUST USE OR LOSE

A. We must use our faith or lose it.

1. Since faith comes by hearing the word, a neglect of the word will cause faith to atrophy (Rom 10:17).

2. Hear the word (Heb 2:1; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Thess 1:3; Heb 6:1-2).

B. We must use our gift or lose it (1 Tim 4:13-16; Rom 12:8; Prov 25:11).

C. We must use our knowledge or lose it (Heb 5:11-6:1).

D. We must use our opportunities or lose them (Rev 3:7-8).

II. FOUR TROUBLING QUESTIONS

A. In the next 365 days:

1. What does the future hold for the nation?

2. What does the future hold for the church?

3. What does the future hold for this congregation?

4. What does the future hold for me personally?

B. These are questions we can only ponder (Jam 4:13-16).

III. THERE IS ONE QUESTION WE MUST ANSWER

A. When Pilate asked, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matt 27:22), little did he realize he was asking an existential question—one which every person must personally answer (Matt 16:14-16).

B. “A decision for Christ” is not a one-time act but daily dying to self (Matt 16:24-27).

CONCLUSION

A. We do not know what the future holds, but if we trust Him who holds the future, we will never give up (2 Cor 4:16-5:1).

B. What will you do with Jesus (Matt 27:22)