How Do We Defeat Apathy?
Apathy: lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern (Google Dictionary).We don’t have to go very far into the Bible to find the first case of apathy. When Adam stood by and allowed Satan to tempt Eve, Adam was displaying apathy, and we as men have been fighting it ever since (Genesis 3:6). So, how do we defeat apathy?
Related Content: Staying In The Fight
Defeat Apathy by Preparing for the Fight
God calls each and every one of us to different missions and battles in our lives. Sometimes God works in what we would deem to be unreasonable ways or calls us to act in seemingly unreasonable ways. Know this going in, and don’t put God in a box. There is nothing that is impossible for God. But we have to be tuned into Him so we know we are hearing him correctly. We prepare for the fight every day by aligning ourselves with the Father.
Defeat Apathy with a Mentality for the Battle
Wake up every morning and know you are walking into a battle. Let’s stop making excuses and blaming other people for our failures. Step up and tell the voice inside your head NO when it wants you to stay in a position of inaction (apathy).One of the most important things we can do is to tell each other “good job” or “go for it.” There’s a reason it’s hard for us to do that…. because Satan doesn’t want us to! We need our brothers and sisters in Christ by our side cheering us on constantly, and we can be that encouragement for our brothers and sisters, too. When we stand alongside one another, we help set the right mentality for battle in both ourselves and in those around us.
Defeat Apathy by Charging into the Fight
One of the key actions David took in his battle against Goliath is that he didn’t wait for Goliath to come to him; he charged toward Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:48-51 - 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. (NIV)
David was ready and armed to go into the fight. God had been training him for this very moment.
1 Samuel 17:33-37 - 33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” (NIV)
We need to be ready with the word of God in our hearts and minds. It’s the deadliest weapon we can every posses in the war against apathy.
Defeat Apathy by Finishing the Fight
1 Samuel 17:50-51 - 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. (NIV)
Did you notice that God didn’t supply David with a sword to kill Goliath with before the fight? God provided in the midst of the battle. All David had to do was act and use his God given skills. We need to do the same. Instead of having paralysis from analysis, or a fear of failure, we need to take a leap of faith and follow God’s calling.Defeating apathy isn’t easy. It takes years of practice, just like a solider going to war. But everyday we have the opportunity to become a better fighter then we were the day before. Before too long apathy will be scared of us!