I Don't Care

Background to passage: Prophesied during the reign of Josiah, about 630 BC. Helped with the reforms, prophesied destruction, Day of the Lord coming. Josiah postponed it, but Judah was too far gone. Contemporaries with Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Nahum.

Dealt with so many sins, idolatry was first and primary. Others included violence, fraud, pride, disobedience, trust in wealth, refusal to seek the Lord, no shame in sin, refusal to accept correction, unbelief/distrust in God, arrogance, treachery, and blasphemy.

Today we will look at complacency, which God promises punishment for.

Zephaniah 1:2–13 ESV

“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord. “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord. “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom, those who have turned back from following the Lord, who do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.” Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice— “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud. “On that day,” declares the Lord, “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.’ Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.”

Opening illustration: video about the little kid in the Boy Who Didn’t Care - Maurice Sendak. In one of the Sharing HOPE team training sessions with Mark Marshall, we discussed those who would receive the vision ready and quickly embrace it and work it. We talked about those who would need a little more time to think about it. We talked about those who would be extremely slow adopters, and those who were never going to embrace it. However, one of the things that he told us was that direct opposition would be easier to overcome than apathy, people who just don’t care if the lion comes.

Main thought: Complacency kills and brings judgment from God. In 2026, if we are to begin to implement the HOPE discipleship strategy, every one of us has commitment to rooting out every last bit of complacency in our lives.

1) Definition of Complacency (v. 12)

Zephaniah 1:12 ESV

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.’

1) Definition of Complacency (v. 12)

Explanation: Complacency is a heart condition according to the scriptures. It is a mentality. It is an inner posture that affects the way we think and act. In this text it is a picture of unused wine that settles to the bottom of the jug to the point of uselessness; of people who will be judged because they think and act as though God is not a factor in day to day life. They ignore Him. They neither speak ill nor speak good of God. They neither rebel nor pursue Him. They are practical atheist. They would never say that, but they trust so much in their stuff, world systems, governments, people, securities, or themselves that they have no need for God. Life will just go on with or without him. They may go through the motions of religious life, maybe serve in religious ways, thought well of at the temple, synagogue or community, but don’t really acknowledge God in their hearts and minds or even their actions accept for a head nod.

James 4:13–15 ESV

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Proverbs 1:32–33 ESV

For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Illustration: Do you think that UGA took 4 weeks off before their first playoff game? Do you think that Olympians warm up ever four years? Don’t you want your doctor to know about the treatments, medications, and technologies from four years ago? Erika and I watch this series called DOC. This doctor who was at the top of her profession had a car wreck and lost the last 8 years of her memory. She had to pass boards again, go back and begin as a resident again...but what about the new everything, not just catch back up. Your boss can’t be a non-factor, your spouse or family can’t be a non-factor. Your electricity bill can’t be a non-factor.

Application: You and I both know it is easy to drift. We know those or have been those or are becoming those who miss a Sunday or two, then it seems harder to come back. Then nobody calls after the next time you miss three Sundays in a row and we have a church that exhibits complacency as well as a member or attendee who is becoming complacent. We must repent.

We may go days without being in the word or prayer or in spiritual conversation with another believer and it doesn’t bother us. Or we can listen to sermons every day and it not change us. We feel no conviction, no longing, no passion, just business as usual. One song writer said, “prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.”

We lose all sense that we are exiles and sojourners in this world, citizens of another country. We lose awe and wonder. We fall victim to the roaring lion of sin seeking to devour us. We don’t put on the armor. We grow sleepy to spiritual things. And as a church when we are complacent, this will bring disaster. We ignore the greatest treasure in the universe.

2) Killing Complacency (v. 12)

Zephaniah 1:12 ESV

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.’

2) Killing Complacency (v. 12)

Explanation: In general the bible has some prescriptions and plans for helping us lay aside every weight of sin that holds us down and lulls us to sleep.

Romans 8:13 ESV

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Armor is also actively put on: word of God, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, belt of truth, feet prepared with the gospel. I want to focus on the most helpful and practical. In Romans we are told to put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, we will live. The sword of the Spirit is the word. So, the word is active in the hands of the Spirit to kill sin in your life. We must lay hold on specific parts of the word to help us die daily, crucify the flesh. As we read, memorize, meditate, and hear the Word, the Spirit will empower us to overcome sin.

1 Thessalonians 5:6–9 ESV

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

Warnings:

Amos 6:1 ESV

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!

Matthew 13:22 ESV

As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Matthew 24:37 ESV

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 ESV

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Instructions:

Galatians 6:9 ESV

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Hebrews 2:1 ESV

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

“Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27 that he pummels his body lest he prove to be a castaway, I picture a person driving a car on an important mission for Christ and about to fall asleep at the wheel — and smacking his own cheek. This is Paul. Paul said, “Wake up, Paul — come on, wake up! Don’t sleep through the revolution. Put your left elbow out into the freezing cold window in Minnesota. Stay awake. You’re on a mission. Your life counts for something.” -John Piper

Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Illustration: All my tools that I had laid out for quarter-round, all the tools in the OR for surgery,

Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah: An Introduction and Commentary i. Judgment of God’s People (1:8–13)

G. A. Smith clearly expressed the problem when he wrote: ‘The great causes of God and Humanity are not defeated by the hot assaults of the Devil, but by the slow, crushing, glacier-like mass of thousands and thousands of indifferent nobodies. God’s causes are never destroyed by being blown up, but by being sat upon

Application: By the Spirit, with the Word, long-term fighting, accountability. We must engrave warning and instruction on our minds. We must live together sharing our spiritual victories and struggles. We must be the one who sits in the passenger seat and keeps the driver awake, and sometimes be willing to be driven for the good of everyone else.

Hebrews 10:22–24 ESV

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Western Heights, we must wake up! We must drive a dagger into the mindset that says what we have is good enough. We must determine to CARE before the lion eats us. Satan is not one that devours and then spits you out when the doctor turns him upside down. This is our spiritual life. This is critical for the salvation of many in this town. This is a must for making disciples through HOPE. This is for the glory of God. This is for the fame of the name of Christ. This is for the advance of the kingdom.

So, commit to the Word, to the Spirit, to each other, and let us kill maintenance mentality, apathy, and complacency before it kills us. God will walk through with a lamp, may you be a part the the remnant of those that are not satisfied with the status quo, with practical atheism, but are committed to take up a cross, die to our selves, even up to death, being conformed unto his likeness for his glory, our good, and the gospel.

A. Closing illustration: Have I Forgotten lyrics

Verse 1

Have I forgotten the cross my Lord When I carry not my own Have I forgotten the crown You bore Upon your sacred head O help me not forget Verse 2

Have I forgotten Your hands were pierced When I hold on to this world Have I forgotten Your love so fierce Gasping for Your breath Oh help me not forget Verse 3

Have I forgotten the mystery When I've heard it all before Have i forgotten how to believe My doubt is strong and yet This heart cannot forget

Chorus

The cross, the cross My soul remember this what love, what cost O help me not forget