The Danger of Apathy...

Painting by Christina Ramos

Have you ever been reading your Bible, and a certain phrase just sorta pops out and sticks with you throughout the day? Sometimes it's very profound, a morsel of "meat", that you seem to "chew" on as you go about your business. Then there are other times where you wonder why you never saw it before.

This happened to me this last week as I found myself embroiled in the drama that was the life of King David in 2 Samuel. At this time in my reading, David's son Amnon has just raped his stepsister Tamar, and found that he hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had lover her. (2 Samuel 13:15)

Tamar is now seated in ashes, mourning the loss of her purity, when her brother Absalom tells her to hold her peace..he is thy brother; regard not this thing. (2 Samuel 13:20)

Surprisingly, David's only response to this whole sordid tale was that he was angry...period. End of story.

His lack of response seems to have watered seeds of hatred and bitterness in the heart of Absalom toward his father AND his brother. It seems like David remained aloof, not just toward matters of his own family, but also towards those in his kingdom. Absalom went as far as to lament: Oh that I were made judge ithe land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! (2 Samuel 15:4)

But here's what caught my eye....

And it came to pass after forty years...

During this time of forty years Absalom was working to turn the hearts of David's people toward himself and away from their king. We're talking YEARS...not days, or even weeks. In perspective that's almost my entire life.

And then there was David, seemingly unaware of the plotting and underhanded dealings of his own son...not until he has to flee for his life, with Absalom hot on his heels.

In all that time I wondered how David never saw what was happening before him. To me it was as if he had become apathetic toward the things that the Lord had entrusted in his care. Was it because of the constant fighting or family drama that had come as a result of his sin years earlier? Was he tired of dealing with it all?

To me this was a warning of what can happen when my own attitude turns toward apathy, not really concerned whether or not I've spent my time with the Lord, or dealt with sin when confronted during a message...just fill in the blank.

It's hard to be alert spiritually when your disinterested in spiritual matters.

The Christian life is a battle with no time for giving up or turning a blind eye. Instead, Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Cor. 16:13) Rest is coming...keep vigilant, My Friend!

Simply Watching,