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? Just enough to get by? Specifically, this proverb is describing a type of 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 strong warning is that such complacency destroys us. How? Consider 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, David, his father before him. His complacency led to rape and murder. Or Samson. His complacency led to his literal blindness, slavery and murder-suicide. Joshua’s complacency allowed the enemy to live among God’s people. Where is your complacency leading you? What path has complacency started you on?
The root of our complacency is a failure to fear the Lord. The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom. When the love and trust of God is no longer your primary motivation, when you begin living only for your own glory, rather than the glory of God, that is when complacency will take hold. We begin to do just enough to get by. We only study enough to get the passing grade. We only work hard enough to not lose the job. 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.
Praise God Jesus was never complacent. Jesus did not hold on to his prosperity in Heaven, using it as an excuse to do just enough to get by. No, he gave it all up for you and for me. He fulfilled every sovereign detail of God’s redemptive mission. He obeyed every jot and tittle of the law. He did whatever was required of him to save humanity, even his undeserved death on the cross. Truly there is nothing complacent at all about the cross.
The Christ that lives in you is also never complacent. He is always giving us everything he’s got. Literally. All that is his is ours by the Spirit. Jesus never gives us the bare minimum of mercy, or just enough 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 that is meant to take us from complacency in life to a life of humble vigilance.
There is no room for complacency in the Christian life. No place for the divided heart. No serving two masters. No growing weary in doing good. No living from the lukewarm heart. Thankfully, Christ in us is changing our hearts. Replacing the heart of complacent stone with the heart of fully dedicated flesh.
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 