Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
Spiritual Laziness
The sloth is a tree-dwelling mammal renounced for laziness. His lethargy is so great that he will give his life before pursuing food beyond arm’s reach. The Scriptures use this creature to illustrate human indolence. Paul said we are to be "in diligence not slothful" (Romans 12.11). The idle one-talent man was called a "wicked and slothful servant" and condemned to "outer darkness."
Spiritual laziness is strictly forbidden, yet we seem to lack "get-upand-go." A charismatic lady once said to a Christian friend of mine, "You people just don’t have any power." As confused as she was about spiritual gifts, her words disturb me. We do need some power. We need some energy. We need some zeal. The related Greek words zelos and zeo render our English words "zeal" and "fervor." Thayer picturesquely defines zeo: "to boil with heat, be hot." The Greeks used these words to describe boiling water. The Holy Spirit used them to describe Christians.
Zeal is necessary for success in every aspect of life. It distinguishes the "C" student from the "A" student even though they have the same intelligence. Zeal is the difference on the scorecard when two football teams of equal size, speed, and skill play. Zeal is the difference in market share between two corporations marketing homogenous products. No one denies its essentiality in business, sports, and academics. But zeal is also required by God.
The church in Laodicea was not frozen solid, but neither was it "boiling over" for Christ. It was "lukewarm." Because of this Jesus said He would "spew thee out of my mouth" (Revelation 3.14-19). What was their problem? They had not forsaken the Lord’s church for human institutions. Jesus merely eproved them for complacency. We must recognize that included in "doctrinal soundness" is being "fervent in spirit" and that we are as spiritually incomplete without zeal as we are without baptism. But how? That is the real question. What is the source of zeal?
Gimmicks notwithstanding, biblical zeal comes from assimilation of the word of God into human hearts. The Thessalonians "received the word of God... accepted it," and it "worked" in them (1 Thessalonians 2.13). "Worked" is from energeo, the ancestor of our word "energy." It was not the product of human manufacture, but the old-fashioned word of God that energized the Thessalonians. Similarly, Paul said the gospel is "the power of God." "Power" is translated from dunamis, from which we get our word "dynamite." It is the gospel that empowers us. Zeal comes from the word of God.
All of us own Bibles, so where is all this zeal that is supposed to emanate from God’s word? The word is but half of the solution. Food produces physical energy, but it must first be eaten, then digested. Notice that the Thessalonians had "accepted" the word before it energized them. The word no more exudes zeal than cornbread exudes calories. Both must be consumed and assimilated. But let us go a step further and examine how the assimilated word produces zeal.
Paul told the Corinthians he was glad his prior epistle had made them sorry because their sorrow produced repentance. He proceeded to say godly sorrow wrought zeal (2 Corinthians 7.8-11). When they had compared their lives to the truths in Paul’s letter, they sorrowed over their shortcomings, repented, and became zealous. Also, Paul told Titus that Jesus "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us... a people for his own possession, zealous of good works" (Titus 2.14). Knowledge of the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus produces a zealous people.
Two truths very basic to Christianity are presented in the above references, and when they are digested, they become the source of zeal: (1) We are sinners and feel godly sorrow over our lost condition, and (2) Jesus died to redeem us. If these truths are real to us, we will be disinclined to resist the power and energy of God’s word. Zeal is a natural by-product of the process of regeneration. How can a soul which has had the weight of its sin laid even though they squarely upon it, and then been freely lifted from it, do anything but boil with zeal for his Redeemer?
If, like my friend’s acquaintance said, we "don’t have any power," it is because we do not have the word! Oh, we may have it lying on our coffee tables, but it is not part of us. If churches are "dead" it is because individual Christians are "dead." Changing the order of collective worship to spark enthusiasm does no lasting good if individuals do not study. Personal work programs, though fine per se, may not be attacking the real problem if individuals are lazy. The appropriate question is not, "What can the church do to light the fire," but "How can I light the fire?"
We are all zealous for something. The Laodiceans were zealous for riches (verse 17), but they were "lukewarm" for God. The man who is slothful in attendance may be a zealot for the NFL or largemouth bass. We need to be zealous for the right things. Studying, meditating upon, and incorporating the Lord’s word into our hearts will make us zealous for the Lord.
— In Christianity Magazine, April 1988
