Give up indifference and invest yourself fully.
“I don’t vote,” said the indifferent young adult; “my vote doesn’t count.” So, s/he spends her/his life going to work, watching tv, and figuring out what movie to see on Saturday night.
The U.S. Census figures that about 36% of 18-29-year-olds voted in 2018. When you figure how many of the entire voting-age population vote, it hovers around 55%. Which all means that nearly half of the entire voting-age population DOESN’T vote. And about 2/3 of the young adult population stays home on voting day.
It’s a very graphic picture of what indifference looks like. Not caring. Being too lazy to put forth the effort to be invested in one’s world. And it’s not limited to voting.
In religious communities it is seen in the “who has the better offer” crowd at church – who gage whether they will be present or whether there is something more fun to do on day or at that event. It’s in those who don ‘t feel any investment in what God is doing in the world.
If the Lord’s vision for the world depended entirely on you, what progress would it be making?
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.’” Matthew 16:24-26.
Question: List the top 2-3 ways you allow indifference to govern your life. To cause you to not care. To cause you to say, “I’d rather be doing that rather than this thing that is not convenient, not fun, or costs too much of my time and money. “
Activity: Find one God-area of your life where you would like to invest more commitment
and interest, and plan how you will set that in motion.
Prayer: God of action, we know you did not create us to be lazy and indolent. You did not create us to be uncaring and disconnected. Please take up residence in our hearts and give us divine discomfort when we are tempted to not give you our lives and take up your yoke. In Jesus’ name we pray this. Amen.