Articles
SPIRITUAL INERTIA
The one talent man did not commit adultery, embezzle or murder. All he did was to bury his
talent (Matthew 24:25).
It was the easy thing to do.
God’s call is not to rest, retire or retreat; it is to resist and to grow, to fight on, to overcome
obstacles. Significantly the Christian life is compared to a long-distance race (Hebrews 12:1-3),
and spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-12). I don’t know of a Christian retirement plan. Oh, of
course there’s our hope of heaven, but when do we retire from serving God in this life? I am
fascinated by those who say, “The time of my teaching or serving is over.” Just about the time a
saint has learned the hard lessons of life he decides to hang up his spiritual spurs?
“Inertia” is defined as the tendency to do nothing, or remain unchanged.
Forgive me for saying so, but that definition describes a whole throng of church attendees!
It’s easy to hold a grudge; it’s hard to forgive.
It’s easy to remain the same; it’s hard to grow. It’s easy to enjoy the benefits of church
membership; it’s hard to contribute our time and effort. It’s easy to stay home; it’s hard to go
take the Gospel to other nations.
God calls on us to repent, grow and go (Luke 13:3; 2 Peter 3:18; Matthew 28:19-20). He
never calls on us to jog in place, to tread water. An object that is inert is usually mistaken for
dead.
And there, beloved, lies the deadly danger. If we don’t grow, we die.
~Stan Mitchell via Harrisburg church of Christ, Harrisburg, IL
Are you growing or are you dying? As a Christian, it is either one or the other. There is no
middle ground. Lukewarm is condemned (Revelation 3:16). Let’s be sure that we are doing all
we can to grow up in the Lord! ~P. Mowrer
