Question 1

What causes apathy?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 6:11-12“The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.”Nehemiah 9:28As soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight.Success can lead to apathy. Preoccupation with material possessions eventually leads to apathy because earthly things have no lasting value.Proverbs 29:7The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all.Ephesians 4:19They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.Sinful living can cause apathy. Sin turns the spotlight on self and selfishness, so concern for others fades away.

Question 2

What are some warning signs of apathy?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 81:11But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.Jeremiah 6:10To whom can I give warning? Who will listen when I speak? Their ears are closed, and they cannot hear. They scorn the word of the Lord. They don’t want to listen at all.Jeremiah 7:13While you were doing these wicked things, says the Lord, I spoke to you about it repeatedly, but you would not listen. I called out to you, but you refused to answer.Jeremiah 25:3-7For the past twenty-three years . . . the Lord has been giving me his messages. I have faithfully passed them on to you, but you have not listened. Again and again the Lord has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention.Jeremiah 35:15Time after time I sent you prophets, who told you, “Turn from your wicked ways, and start doing things right. Stop worshiping other gods so that you might live in peace here in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you would not listen to me or obey me.Ezekiel 3:7“But the people of Israel won’t listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn.”Zephaniah 1:6“They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings.”Zechariah 1:4“Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’”Zechariah 7:11-13“Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.”Ignoring or neglecting God’s Word are warning signs of apathy. When we cut ourselves off from God, we cut off our lifeline to the One who gives us purpose and joy.Jeremiah 2:30“I have punished your children, but they did not respond to my discipline.”Jeremiah 5:3Lord, you are searching for honesty. You struck your people, but they paid no attention. You crushed them, but they refused to be corrected . . . they have refused to repent.Jeremiah 17:23“They stubbornly refused to pay attention or accept my discipline.”Jeremiah 32:33“My people have turned their backs on me and have refused to return. Even though I diligently taught them, they would not receive instruction or obey.”Refusing to respond to God’s discipline, which is meant to move us in the right direction, is an apathy warning sign because it shows that we just don’t care. But God’s discipline will sooner or later turn to punishment, and we will weep from punishment’s pain instead of rejoicing in growth from his correction.Genesis 19:14So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking.No longer taking sin seriously is a warning sign of apathy. When we can’t find anything bad enough to outrage us, we have become apathetic to the world’s condition and to what God values. We may be falling in step with Satan rather than walking with God.Malachi 1:6-14The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “. . . You have shown contempt for my name!” But you ask, “How have we ever shown contempt for your name?” “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.” Then you ask, “How have we defiled the sacrifices?” “You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies . . . You say, “It’s too hard to serve the Lord,” and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.When we are lazy or serve God with mediocrity, we can be sure that our hearts have become apathetic as well—a clear warning sign.Psalm 106:7, 13Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the Lord’s miraculous deeds. They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them. Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea . . . Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn’t wait for his counsel!Forgetting God’s past acts of mercy and love or taking him and his love for granted are signs of apathy. When our memories of God’s blessings fade, so will our contentment with life.Isaiah 32:9Listen, you women who lie around in ease. Listen to me, you who are so smug.Becoming increasingly lazy is a sign of apathy. Winning a race and enjoying its rewards is difficult to do from a rocking chair.

Question 3

Why do I sometimes feel apathetic toward God?

Accepted Answer

1 Kings 11:1-3Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.We can become apathetic toward God because of sin. When sin takes a foothold in our lives, it always leads us away from God and toward an apathetic attitude about him. Satan will use all his power to keep us from getting excited about following God.Genesis 3:6The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.Temptation takes our focus off God and makes thinking about something else more exciting. This happens when something else—interesting and enticing—suddenly has our attention. If what we are excited about is not what God wants us to do, our passion for God will suffer.Mark 14:32-41They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed . . . Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”Sometimes we are just too tired or don’t see the significance of what is happening around us. Peter thought this was just another night out. If he had been spiritually sensitive, he might have sensed the significance of this night.Zephaniah 1:6“I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings.”The tendency toward self-sufficiency can stifle our relationship with God and cause us to be apathetic toward him. If we think we have all we need, why would we stop and consider our need for God?Malachi 1:13“You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the Lord,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the Lord.Colossians 1:23You must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.Hebrews 2:1So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.Revelation 2:4“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”As with all relationships, our relationship with God takes effort and energy. God continues to be fully committed to us. In order for our relationship to continue to be exciting, we must be fully committed to him—diligent in our efforts to know him better. A lack of effort and energy is a sure sign of apathy.

Question 4

What can I do when I am feeling apathetic?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 20:13If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!Isaiah 32:10In a short time—just a little more than a year—you careless ones will suddenly begin to care. For your fruit crops will fail, and the harvest will never take place.Sooner or later apathy produces negative consequences because we are not actively pursuing God, who loves us and provides for us. So much of what we have comes from our relationship with God. He gives us wisdom, care, protection, and grace. When we are feeling apathetic about God, we should think through the potentially negative consequences of being apart from him; this will motivate us to draw closer to him.Luke 21:34Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware.Jesus warned his followers to be alert to spiritual apathy. We don’t want to come to the end of life having neglected our relationship with God because we have been so focused on living the good life.Psalm 119:83I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.We should obey God’s commands even when we don’t feel like it. This will take tremendous effort, but being apathetic is difficult when we are focused on something. Whatever takes great effort is stimulating and engaging. This will help keep us close to God.Acts 16:25Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.Instead of sinking into apathy when adversity strikes, we should worship God through prayer and singing and stay connected with Christian friends. Even when we don’t feel like doing this, we should do it anyway; and our efforts will be rewarded. Prayer and praise to God are a sure cure for apathy.Ezekiel 11:19“I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart.”When feeling apathetic, we should submit to God, allowing him to replace our apathetic hearts with new, tender hearts.Romans 12:9Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.Philippians 2:4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.Hebrews 6:10-12God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent.The more interested we are in something, the less apathy we will have. The more interested we become in the lives of those around us, the more we will care about them. Getting involved in others’ lives will not only keep us from becoming dull and indifferent, it also will challenge us to think about ways to reflect the love of Christ to them.2 Timothy 3:1-5You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!Apathy can be contagious, so we should watch the company we keep.Proverbs 12:11A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.Proverbs 12:27The diligent make use of everything they find.Proverbs 13:4Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.Romans 12:11Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.2 Thessalonians 3:11Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.2 John 1:8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.Revelation 3:19“I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.”One of the best cures for apathy is hard work. When we work hard, we become productive. The more productive we are, the more you are satisfied and fulfilled we feel. Even better, when we see our hard work as an act of service to God, we gain more energy as we see God using us to bless others.Proverbs 19:3People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.We need to take responsibility for our actions and attitudes. Not seeing ourselves as victims can be a crucial step to overcoming apathy.Jeremiah 1:4-5The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you.”We can stimulate our passion for life by realizing that God has a purpose for us. God created each person uniquely to make a difference for his Kingdom. Purpose stirs passion, and passion drives apathy away.

Question 5

What happens if apathy is allowed to grow in my life?

Accepted Answer

Jeremiah 12:4How long must this land mourn? Even the grass in the fields has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land.Without God, life ultimately becomes empty and withered because we begin to wonder if anything we have done matters or will last. Without God, our sinful nature eats at us unchecked, eventually turning our souls into wastelands. When we invite God into our lives, he begins to clean out the weeds of sin so the landscape of our souls can thrive.Jeremiah 7:24“But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.”Matthew 12:30“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”Hebrews 2:3So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak.Revelation 3:15-16“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”As apathy increases, hope decreases. Without hope in the promise of salvation and eternal life, we lose purpose and direction. What, then, are we really living for?Isaiah 32:11-13Tremble, you women of ease; throw off your complacency. Strip off your pretty clothes, and put on burlap to show your grief. Beat your breasts in sorrow for your bountiful farms and your fruitful grapevines. For your land will be overgrown with thorns and briers. Your joyful homes and happy towns will be gone.Jeremiah 12:4How long must this land mourn? Even the grass in the fields has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land. For the people have said, “The Lord doesn’t see what’s ahead for us!”Jeremiah 12:11“They have made it an empty wasteland; I hear its mournful cry. The whole land is desolate, and no one even cares.”Apathy, ironically, causes us to lose what we value the most. If a man is apathetic toward his wife, he is in danger of losing her. If we are apathetic to investing our money, we will not have much of it at retirement. If we are apathetic toward God, we are in danger of losing the priceless rewards that await his followers. Apathy is not only a passive force that lulls us to sleep, but it can also be an aggressive force that works to prevent us from keeping what is most meaningful and important.Jeremiah 2:19“Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”Jeremiah 7:26“But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful—even worse than their ancestors.”Jeremiah 36:24Neither the king nor his attendants showed any signs of fear or repentance at what they heard.Ezekiel 12:2“Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people.”Apathy can lead to a life of indifferent rejection of God. If we don’t care about what is true or what God wants us to do, then we are, in fact, actually rebelling against him. An “I don’t care” attitude about God is the same as saying to him, “Stay away from me.”