Don't Become A Lazy Christian

By: Jenifer Metzger

Whatever you do, do it from the heart,

as something done for the Lord and not

for people, knowing that you will receive

the reward of an inheritance from the

Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24 CSB

I love watching baseball, basketball, volleyball, and racing. Whether on TV or live in person, it is so much fun! Growing up my dad was a racecar driver and watching him was always a good time. Three of my kids played sports -we had baseball, basketball, and volleyball- and watching my kids was the time of my life.

While I love watching, that is all I can do. I can tell you the specifics. I can tell you how to hold a baseball bat. I may tell you to choke up on the bat or get that elbow up. I often yelled to my sons while they were catching to, "Get that hand behind your back!" I can tell a basketball player to get his arms up or guard his man. I know the how to, but I am nothing more than a spectator.

Being a Christian, however, is not a spectator sport. Being a Christian requires active involvement. We cannot become a lazy Christian. In fact, the two words don't belong together.

It can be easy to check off our Christian list. We read a couple chapters today, check. We prayed before we ate our meals, check. We went to church this week, check. We threw some money in the offering plate, check. We didn't cuss out that co-worker who is driving us nuts, check. We turned off that TV show that was inappropriate, check. Check, check, check!

Yet being a Christian is far more than a check list. It is far more than just doing our Christian duty. It is about a relationship, about being an active part of a relationship.

So we read some chapters in the Bible, but did we learn anything? Did we pray about what we read? Did we study what we read? Did we meditate on it? Did we ask God how we can apply it to our lives? So we attended church this week, but did we take to heart what God gave our Pastor to preach on? Did we serve? Did we reach out to encourage someone? Did we connect? So we didn't cuss out that co-worker, but did we bless that homeless person God put in our path? Did we serve our husband with love? Did we reach out to a neighbor we know is struggling? So we prayed before we ate dinner, but did we worship God? Did we pray for the lost loved one? Did we give thanks for our blessings? Did we sit and listen for God?

Being a Christian is about a longing. Longing for more of Him, more of His ways, more of His touch. Longing to to live for Him obediently and serve Him wholeheartedly. We can't simply check off our list and go about our day without another thought of God.

As a deer longs for flowing streams,

so I long for you, God.

Psalm 42:1 CSB

When we live our Christian life as a check list, we have become a lazy Christian. When we live our life as an active part of a relationship, longing for more of Him, we grow and flourish.

Friend, are you ready to live in an active relationship with God?

Discussion:
1. Have you ever, or are you now, living as a lazy Christian? Are you satisfied in that state or ready to move beyond being a spectator?
2. What can you do right now to grow your walk with God into an active relationship?