Complacency

What is it?

Is it a good thing, bad thing?

Proverbs 1:32 NASB95

32 “For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Proverbs 19:18 NASB95

18 Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

Zephaniah 1:12 NASB95

12 “It will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good or evil!’

What does it mean to be Complacent?

Thoughtlessness, a state or condition of improper satisfaction in one’s circumstances in life

synonyms complacence, conceitedness, egoism, egotism, narcissism, pride, vainglory

adjective smug and uncritically satisfied with oneself or one’s achievements. feeling or showing an often excessive or unjustified satisfaction and pleasure in one’s status, possessions, or attainments

How do we get Complacent?

Amos 6:1 NASB95

1 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion And to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria, The distinguished men of the foremost of nations, To whom the house of Israel comes.

Deuteronomy 8:13–14 NASB95

13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Luke 12:19–20 NASB95

19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’

Matthew 7:26–27 NASB95

26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

How do we overcome Complacency?

Matthew 7:24–25 NASB95

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Romans 12:3 NASB95

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Proverbs 10:4 NASB95

4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Ecclesiastes 10:18 NASB95

18 Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.

To Sum Up

Matthew 24:11–13 NASB95

11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

Matthew 25:1–10 NASB95

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 “The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.

2 Corinthians 13:5 NASB95

5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

Are You Complacent in Your Christian Life?