Proverbs 1:32. the complacency of fools destroys them.
Complacency.
Is that a word that describes you? Are you generally indifferent? OK with doing as little as possible? Doing just enough to get by? Specifically, this is complacency that enters in when doing well, when prospering (in fact some translations use the word “prosperity” instead of “complacency” here). Nothing bad can happen, we think. And so we stop trying.
The problem is that such complacency destroys us. How? Well, just look at Solomon’s life. He had it all. All the wealth, wisdom, and women a man could ever want. What happened? He became complacent. He stopped diligently pursuing a relationship with God. He stopped guarding his own heart.
Or consider his father, David. His complacency led to rape and murder. Or Samson. His complacency led to his literal blindness, slavery and murder-suicide. Where is your complacency leading you?
Of course the problem with being complacent is that you read a devotional like this one about being complacent and complacently assume that you are OK, and that it is everyone else who has a problem. I’ll get around to dealing with my complacency someday, you think. How complacent.
The complacent person has lost the fear of God. And there is no wisdom without the fear of God. In our complacency we only do things for ourselves and not for God and his glory. We only study enough to get the passing grade. We only work hard enough to not lose the job (quiet quitting). We only obey God to avoid God. We only trust Christ as a get out of Hell free card and not as the sovereign master of our lives. Complacency uses Jesus to get what we want, rather than contently using what we have to love Jesus.
Thankfully Jesus is never complacent with us. He always gives us his all. He never gives the bare minimum of mercy, or gratuitous grace. He’s never once said to himself, “that’s good enough.” He did everything for us on the cross and he still does everything for us today through his union with us. A union with Christ that is meant to take us from complacency in life to a life of humble vigilance.
You: In what ways are you complacent spiritually?
You in Christ: As you grow in your understanding of your union with Christ has it made you less complacent? Can you explain why?
Christ in you: Where is Jesus urging you forward in courage and vigilance?
Pray: Father, you gave me your best when you gave me your Son. Now I always have your best effort in me. Help me to give others my best too. Amen.
To Live is Christ 