Sunday, February 24, 2019 pm
WHY DO WE SIT STILL?
Jeremiah 8:14
Vs.
14, our text, is a call to repentance (as if to say, “This is your last
chance. REPENT!”).
Of course they would not listen and what Jeremiah and others
prophesied about proved to be true.
A
study of the nations of Israel and Judah yield many lessons for us.
In this context, we find the call to take action to correct
themselves. Similar to
Paul’s challenge for the Corinthians to repent.
And they did (2 Corinthians 7:11).
Tonight, I want to talk about the phrase, “Why do we sit still?”
When there is sin in our lives, or something is wrong, we need to
take action. Yet many fail
to do so. Like the people of
Jerusalem in Jeremiah’s day, many are slow to respond.
Is this the attitude a Christian ought to have?
NO!
a.
Because they don’t care-
apathy. A concern today.
Many realize there are problems (the church is dying, ungodliness
in the church, immorality around us), but they are indifferent.
They have a tepid attitude.
As we noted in our context.
This was the problem of the people Jeremiah was writing about.
Others, see what is going on and ARE concerned, but not enough
to do something about it.
They are content to let someone else do the work.
Matthew 13:15 as Jesus explained parables, He quoted Isaiah 6:10 noting
that the hearts of the people had grown dull.
When we understand true Christian love, we understand that we have to
care.
b.
Because they are waiting
for directions
– not self-starters. Many
people are willing to do something, but they need to be told what to do.
That is not necessarily wrong, but it can be.
Matthew 20:1-16 tells the parable of the laborers.
Throughout the day, a landowner goes to the market place seeking
workers. He finds many who
are idle and puts them to work.
Motives are not addressed in this parable, but it points out
there are those looking for something to do.
ON the other hand, you have the one talent servant who buries his talent
and does nothing. He is
condemned for his laziness. (Matthew 25:24-26).
Often it is the failure of the individual who is using such as an
excuse, but there is also something to be said about leaders giving
direction to someone. That
is a part of leading.
c.
Because they think they have done enough
- there are many who have done
their fair share and maybe more, because far too many will not (cf.
Galatians 6:5). But in time,
they get tired and think they can stop. They might reason, now it’s
someone else’s turn. No it’s not!
We cannot stop as long as we are on this earth – Hebrews 10:38-39.
d.
Because they are
discouraged
– many stop because of failures.
They are discouraged and reason, “What’s the use?”
Their discouragement may be legitimate, but regardless, we cannot
use it as a crutch to stop.
Like Paul, we are called upon to forget what is behind, reach forward
and press on – Philippians 3:13-14.
Actually, one of the best things to do when you are discouraged,
is SOMETHING productive.
e.
Because they are afraid
– we hear the expression that someone is “paralyzed with fear”.
Many fear failures, making mistakes or rejection, and that keeps
them from doing what they can do.
But we are reminded, we cannot let fear keep us from doing what
needs to be done. “Nothing
in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.”
(Marie Curie) 1 John
4:18 tells us that perfect love casts out fear.
And Jesus Himself warned, that God is the one to fear, not man (Matthew
10:28).
a.
To rest
– as we have noted on numerous occasions, rest is a good and needed
thing. Each night, we sleep
for a few hours. Good sleep
is still sleep (not restless).
We need to pause at times and relax – our bodies and our minds.
Jesus rested – John 4:6, at the well, being wearied, he sat.
Mark 4:38, while everyone else was frantic, Jesus was in the
stern of a boat sleeping on a pillow.
Mark 6:31, Jesus even told His disciples to find a deserted place and
rest for awhile.
b.
To pray to God
– when we examine the life of Jesus, we find He found a solitary place
to pray – Mark 1:35. In
Matthew 6:6, Jesus taught that we should go into our closet and shut the
door and pray.
We need “still time” to go to God privately and personally.
This is a crucial step to spiritual growth.
c.
To study and meditate on God’s word – Philippians 4:8, speaks of meditating or thinking on
“these things”. Paul
describes qualities we need and we learn about in God’s word.
Psalm 119:14-15, I have rejoiced
in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will
meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
Psalm 119:97, Oh, how I love
Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Even Psalm 1:2 speaks of this
1 Timothy 4:13-16, Timothy was told to meditate on “these things”
Note vs. 13-14 – reading, exhortation and doctrine.
Sometimes we need to stop the busyness of life and just read God’s word
and study on what we have just read.
It too, is key to spiritual growth and a greater appreciation of
who God really is.
d.
To plan what you are
going to do next
– planning is an important part of successful work.
Without planning, you will likely be wasting valuable time and
resources.
We have noted that planning is a part of scripture.
Consider our hope because of God’s plan of salvation.
Proverbs 21:5, The plans of the
diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty,
surely to poverty.
Luke 14:28-30, Jesus spoke of counting the cost and gave the
illustration of building a tower.
You make plans first and then build, lest you be embarrassed.
Planning is good thing and requires that we STOP for a moment and think.
e.
To weep or mourn
– typically, mourning is an action that requires us to stop and consider
something. We mourn
over losses, physically and spiritually.
We mourn as a result of our personal failures.
And it is a good thing.
Jesus began the sermon on the mount by saying, “Blessed
are those who mourn…” (Matthew 5:3-4)
He was dealing with our sinful conduct.
Sometimes mourning is part of the evaluation process that will lead to
hungering for righteousness.
f.
To examine yourself – 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Effective examination requires that stop what we are doing and
seriously contemplate. As we
have noted, we need to notice where we are in relation to where we ought
to be (that is what spiritual indicators is about).
g.
Each of these represent
a time to pause and be still, but only for a while.
After that we need to get back to work and busyness.
a.
Because there is work to
be done –
as long as there is breath in us, we have work to do.
1 Corinthians 15:58 calls for us to be steadfast and immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord.
Jesus gives us this example, John 9:4 – He worked while it is day
because the night is coming…
There is ALWAYS something that needs to be done!
Souls that need to be taught, brethren that need strengthening
and encouraging, personal spiritual growth, physical chores that are
never completed, etc.
When we stand still for too long, the things that need to be done start
to pile up and before long we become overwhelmed.
That is not God’s way.
b.
Because God condemns
laziness.
He expects us to be busy.
Recall the condemnation of the one talent servant (Matthew
25:26).
Hebrews 6:11-12, And we desire
that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of
hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those
who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
c.
Because Satan is working – we may take a day off, but Satan doesn’t.
Paul feared for his Corinthian brethren, lest Satan should take
advantage of them (2 Corinthians 2:11, 11:3 – where Paul feared that as
the serpent deceived Eve, so their minds would be corrupted…).
Satan is hard at work.
1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be sober and vigilant because he walks about as
a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
d.
Because souls are lost
– we must continually remind ourselves of this.
2 Corinthians 5:10-11.
We read of “open doors” in scripture (1 Cor. 16:9, 2 Cor. 2:12,
Colossians 4:3, etc.) These
are opportunities. The whole
idea of an open is something that is there only for a short while.
We must never forget that a lost opportunity may never present itself
again. Are we look and ready
to get to work when that door opens?
e.
Because others need our
help –
brethren, and as we have opportunity, our neighbors and the world –
Galatians 6:10, James 1:27, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, etc.
We are here for others (Philippians 2:3-4) and at times that
means we need to get busy.
f.
Because when we are still, we are not moving forward
(reaching forward) – we are reminded that the Bible continually calls
for us to be moving in a positive direction – forward.
We are to be reaching forward – Philippians 3:13, Hebrews 6:1, 1
Corinthians 15:58, 9:24-27, James 1:4 – let patience have its perfect
work, that you may be perfect and complete…, etc.