I Don’t Care

When trying to live a holy life and leave sin behind, one of the hardest things that must be overcome is apathy. The “I don’t care” attitude hinders us from having the zeal necessary to resist Satan’s wiles. We see this same problem in the lives recorded in scripture.

When choosing a place for his family to live, Lot was distracted from thinking about spiritual things. The Bible records that he “pitched his tent toward Sodom” and that the city was “wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly” (Genesis 13:12-13). Lot didn’t care about the sinfulness of the city enough to take his family away from it though he was “vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked” (II Peter 2:7). By the time God is ready to destroy the city for its wickedness Lot is found as a prominent figure there. He paid dearly with the loss of his wife and the consequences of his daughters’ learned immorality.

How does one deal with this destructive attitude. Many of us are stubborn and find change difficult even when we know it occur. Perhaps we should use our stubbornness as a strength instead of a weakness. Consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who lived as faithful Jews in the pagan culture of Babylon. They showed that they didn’t care either. Only this time they didn’t care about the consequences of living righteously. They boldly refused to worship the idol that the king had set up to be worshipped. When questioned concerning their disobedience they gave the timeless reply, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” They did not care what happened to them choosing to stubbornly follow God.

The “I don’t care” attitude can be used to our advantaged if channeled towards Satan and tempered with the knowledge of God’s will. It takes great strength and courage to stubbornly say “no” to ourselves, our neighbors, and our Adversary. James offers, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

But if we don’t care enough to make the tough decisions for the sake of the cross then we’ll never be strong enough to stand up to the tough consequences that come along. Jesus said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12). Paul adds, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

We must gird up the loins of our mind in preparation for the difficulties Satan will send our way (I Peter 1:13). It takes determination to withstand his wiles (Ephesians 6:11). Ultimately those who care enough for Christ and care little for what will happen to them if they do will be victorious over the Adversary’s persecution.