It’s become an epidemic in our society, our lives today.

Indifference.

Apathy

It’s sad really. For whatever reason, we have conditioned ourselves not to care, to see past, to stay stuck, to settle. Perhaps it’s fear holding us back. Maybe it’s laziness. Or we’re simply stretched too thin, caught up in the activity.

Wouldn’t you agree that there’s more to life?

We’re settling for less than God’s best for us when we run our lives on auto pilot. Think about it. Most of us have a routine that is the path of least resistance through our days. Wake up at the same time every day. Shower. Drink coffee. Eat breakfast. Drive to work. Do the same thing at our jobs every day. Go home. Have dinner. Watch some TV. Go to bed. Get up the next day and start all over. Lather, rinse, repeat.

When was the last time you thought about the activity in your life? Are you doing the things you want to do or has the “drift” in life carried you to where you are? Would you choose your current profession, employer, home, etc., if you could consciously choose today?

As we run on autopilot, we become indifferent. “Where I am is just fine, thank you very much.” The routine continues day after day until next thing you know, 10 years, 20 years or a lifetime have passed you by.

Revelation 3:19 (NLT): “I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.”

Jesus took a stand against indifference when he said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” (Matthew 12:30 NLT) He forced people to choose. By staying neutral people thought they were playing it safe. Not so. The indifferent, those that didn’t want to create any waves with anyone, were unknowingly opposing God. In our indifference, are we unknowingly opposing God?

Similarly in Matthew 5:37 (NIV), Jesus says, “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Jesus doesn’t want us riding the fence. If you commit to something, be there. Fully present. Fully alive. Every moment of the day, think to yourself “there is no other place that I’d rather be.” Choose to invest yourself in all that you do. And if there’s something in your life that you find impossible to invest yourself in, pray God would change your heart or give you the courage to change your situation. Sometimes he makes life uncomfortable so that we’ll submit to changes.

It takes presence of mind to invest yourself in your everyday activities. It takes a great deal of courage to recognize it’s time for a change and welcome that change. It takes hootspa (sp?) to break out of your routine. It takes faith to step outside your comfort zone.

But when you do, you find that God is leading you on an exciting journey. It’s time to enjoy the ride.

Towards what life circumstance are you indifferent? What would it take to stir your passion again? What would it take to break free from your routine?

Colossians 3:23 (NLT): Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.