Question 1

In what areas am I vulnerable to carelessness?

Accepted Answer

Joshua 23:11“So be very careful to love the Lord your God.”Psalm 78:11, 42-43They forgot what he had done—the great wonders he had shown them. . . . They did not remember his power and how he rescued them from their enemies. They did not remember his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders on the plain of Zoan.Psalm 111:4He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!Isaiah 46:9“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like 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?We can become vulnerable to carelessness in our relationship with God when we take for granted what he has done for us—from the beauty of creation to the wonders he performs each day. We must never forget the mystery of God’s love, his great majesty, or the magnificence of the salvation he has given us.Zephaniah 1:12“I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the Lord will do nothing to them, either good or bad.”James 4:17Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.We may become vulnerable to carelessness if we take a casual attitude toward sin—thinking that sin isn’t that bad, that God won’t really punish sin, or that God doesn’t really mean what he says in his Word about following him and being obedient.Ecclesiastes 10:18Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house.Isaiah 32:9Listen, you women who lie around in ease. Listen to me, you who are so smug.Isaiah 47:8“Listen to this, you pleasure-loving kingdom, living at ease and feeling secure. You say, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other. I will never be a widow or lose my children.’”We may become vulnerable to carelessness if we are complacent when life is good and when we feel secure. Such an attitude can cause us to forget who gave us all that we have and how we should glorify him and be thankful.Leviticus 5:4“Suppose you make a foolish vow of any kind, whether its purpose is for good or for bad. When you realize its foolishness, you must admit your guilt.”Proverbs 20:25Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.Ecclesiastes 5:2, 6Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. . . . Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.Matthew 12:36“I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.”We can easily become vulnerable to carelessness in our speech. The Bible warns against making rash promises and speaking idle words.Luke 7:46“You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.”Hebrews 13:2-3, 16Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. . . . And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.Hebrews 10:25Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.We can become vulnerable to carelessness in our relationships with others. Always remember to be kind and to encourage those around you.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.We may might become vulnerable to carelessness when we let temptation get a foothold, when we forget who we are as believers in Christ, when we don’t listen to the Holy Spirit within us. Such carelessness can lead to devastating and life-altering consequences.

Question 2

What can happen when I’m careless about my relationship with God?

Accepted Answer

Luke 21:34“Watch 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.”When we are careless with our lifestyle, and when we are focused on wrong priorities (such as letting the worries of this life control us), our hearts will become dull, and we will miss out on the good life that God has for us.Proverbs 10:26Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.Proverbs 13:4Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.Proverbs 18:9A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.Proverbs 20:4Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.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.Matthew 12:36“I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.”Matthew 25:24-30“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘. . . I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! . . . why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ . . ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.’”1 Timothy 4:14Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.When we are careless with our gifts and abilities, lazily refusing to use them, we hurt ourselves and others, and we hold back the building of God’s Kingdom. We should use our gifts and abilities to be good planners for our families, good employees or supervisors, and good citizens of God’s Kingdom, using our abilities to bring others to Christ. Being careless with our responsibilities and talents jeopardizes our future and the futures of those entrusted to our care.

Question 3

How can I avoid carelessness in my relationship with God?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 4:9“Watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”Deuteronomy 6:12“Be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.”Deuteronomy 31:12“Call them all together—men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns—so they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions.”We can avoid carelessness by making it a priority to remember what God has done for us. We can do this by sharing with others (family, friends, children, grandchildren) what he has done in our life and in the lives of others. Perhaps keeping a journal and recording ways God is working will provide a constant reminder of the things God has done within our view.Deuteronomy 4:1“Now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.”Deuteronomy 5:1Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully, Israel. Hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today, so you may learn them and obey them!”Deuteronomy 11:22“Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.”Deuteronomy 12:32“So be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them.”2 Chronicles 27:6King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.Proverbs 3:1My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart.We can avoid carelessness in our relationship with God by diligently studying Scripture and seeking its guidance for our lives. When we know God’s commands and can store them in our hearts, you will be able to obey him and follow his ways. It is through our obedience that we show our love for God.Ephesians 5:15So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.Hebrews 6:10-12For God 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. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.Our lives should reflect wise choices. We can avoid carelessness in our relationship with God by being careful how we live and seeking God in order to make wise decisions. When we do these things, we will avoid becoming spiritually dull and indifferent.Romans 12:11Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.Colossians 3:23Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.We can avoid carelessness in our relationship with God by doing every task, no matter how mundane, as if we are working directly for God.Deuteronomy 8:11, 14“But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. . . . Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.Ecclesiastes 12:1Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.”1 Corinthians 10:12If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.We can avoid carelessness in our relationship with God by being aware of areas and times of vulnerability. For instance, times when we feel confident and think we are standing strong or times when we have all we need and everything is going well. In addition, young people should be especially careful not to let the excitement of youth cause them to be careless, leading to unwise or life-altering decisions.

Question 4

What are the signs of carelessness?

Accepted Answer

Leviticus 18:4, 30; 19:37“You must obey all my regulations and be careful to obey my decrees, for I am the Lord your God. . . . So obey my instructions, and do not defile yourselves by committing any of these detestable practices that were committed by the people who lived in the land before you. I am the Lord your God. . . . You must be careful to keep all of my decrees and regulations by putting them into practice. I am the Lord.”Joshua 22:5“Be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”Psalm 85:8I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.Matthew 7:26-27“Anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”Our disobedience to God is a sign of carelessness in our relationship with him. This may involve as hearing God’s commands and knowing what is right but doing wrong anyway, or simply choosing to go our own way. We must be careful to watch for the first signs of disobedience in our lives.Proverbs 26:13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”Making excuses is a sign that we are being careless with our responsibilities. When we make excuses to get ourselves off the hook, we are demonstrating carelessness for our responsibility to do the right thing.Genesis 25:32-34“Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.Judges 11:31, 35“I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” . . . When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish. “Oh, my daughter!” he cried out. “You have completely destroyed me! You’ve brought disaster on me! For I have made a vow to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.”Matthew 14:6-9At a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.Making rash promises or simply speaking without thinking is a sign that we are being careless with our speech. Think very carefully before making a promise. If we cannot keep a promise, we should not make it.

Carelessness