CARELESSNESS

CARELESSNESS

HOW CAN CARELESSNESS BE A DANGEROUS ATTITUDE? (Matthew 7:24-29)

But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. (Matthew 7:26)

CARELESSNESS CAN LEAD TO FATAL MISTAKES (2 Chronicles 24:1-16).

He summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these instructions: “Go at once to all the towns of Judah and collect the required annual offerings, so that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not delay!” But the Levites did not act right away. (2 Chronicles 24:5)

Like a house of cards, the fool’s life crumbles. Most people do not deliberately seek to build on a false or inferior foundation; instead, they just don’t think about their life’s purpose. Many people are headed for destruction, not out of stubbornness but out of thoughtlessness. Part of our responsibility as believers is to help others stop and think about where their lives are headed and to point out the consequences of ignoring Christ’s message.

CARELESSNESS CAN BE A FORM OF DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD (Leviticus 10:1-7).

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over it. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him a different kind of fire than he had commanded. (Leviticus 10:1)

The Levites took their time carrying out the king’s order, even though he told them not to delay. A tax for keeping the temple in order was not just the king’s order but God’s command (Exodus 30:11-16). The Levites, therefore, were not only disregarding the king but disregarding God. When it comes to following God’s commands, a slow response may be little better than disobedience. Obey God willingly and immediately.

CARELESSNESS CAN BE A FORM OF DISRESPECT TOWARDS GOD.

Aaron’s sons were careless about following the laws for sacrifices. In response, God destroyed them with a blast of fire. Performing the sacrifices was an act of obedience. Doing them correctly showed respect for God. It is easy for us to grow careless about obeying God, to live our way instead of God’s. But if one way were just as good as another, God would not have commanded us to live his way. He always has good reasons for his commands, and we always place ourselves in danger when we consciously or carelessly disobey them.

GOD’S WORD ON CARELESSNESS

IN WHAT AREAS ARE WE VULNERABLE TO CARELESSNESS?

Joshua 23:11 . . . Be very careful to love the Lord your God.

Psalm 111:4 . . . Who can forget the wonders he performs? How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

Psalm 78:11, 42-43 . . .They forgot what he had done-the wonderful miracles he had shown them, . . . They forgot about his power and how he rescued them from their enemies. They forgot his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders on the plain of Zoan.

Isaiah 46:9 . . . Do not forget the things I have done throughout history. For I am God-I alone! I am God, and there is no one else like me.

We can become careless in our love relationship with God.

Hebrews 2:3 . . . What makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great salvation that was announced by the Lord Jesus himself? It was passed on to us by those who heard him speak.

Zephaniah 1:12 . . . I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to find and punish those who sit contented in their sins, indifferent to the Lord, thinking he will do nothing at all to them.

James 4:17 . . .Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

We can become careless in taking a casual attitude toward sin.

Isaiah 47:8 . . . You are a pleasure-crazy kingdom, living at ease and feeling secure, bragging as if you were the greatest in the world! You say, “I’m self-sufficient and not accountable to anyone! I will never be a widow or lose my children.”

We can become careless in our lifestyle.

Isaiah 32:9 . . . Listen, you women who lie around in lazy ease. Listen to me, and I will tell you of your reward.

Ecclesiastes 10:18 . . . Laziness lets the roof leak, and soon the rafters begin to rot.

1 Timothy 4:14 . . . Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.

We can become careless in our responsibilities and in using our gifts and talents.

Leviticus 5:4 . . . Or if they make a rash vow of any kind, whether its purpose is for good or bad, they will be considered guilty even if they were not fully aware of what they were doing at the time.

Proverbs 20:25 . . . It is dangerous to make a rash promise to God before counting the cost.

Ecclesiastes 5:2, 6 . . . Don’t make rash promises to God, for he is in heaven, and you are only here on earth. So let your words be few. . .In such cases, your mouth is making 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, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.

We can become careless in our speech.

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, 16 . . . Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Don’t forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies. . . . Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.

Hebrews 10:25 . . . Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.

We can become careless in our relationships with one another.

WHAT CAN RESULT FROM OUR BEING CARELESS?

Psalm 106:7, 13, 21 . . . Our ancestors in Egypt were not impressed by the Lord’s miracles. 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! . . . They forgot God, their savior, who had done such great things in Egypt.

When we are careless in our relationship with the Lord, we can become rebellious toward him.

Luke 21:34 . . . “Watch out! Don’t let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware.”

When we are careless with our lifestyle, we become focused on wrong priorities which erode our spirituality.

Matthew 25:24-30 . . . “I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth.” . . . But the master replied, “You wicked and lazy servant! . . . you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. . . . Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold.” To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. . . . But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away.

Isaiah 32:10 . . . In a short time-in just a little more than a year-you careless ones will suddenly begin to care. For your fruit crop will fail, and the harvest will never take place.

Proverbs 10:26 . . . Lazy people are a pain to their employer. They are like smoke in the eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge.

Proverbs 10:4 . . . Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.

Proverbs 12:24 . . . Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

Proverbs 13:4 . . . Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper and be satisfied.

Proverbs 18:9 . . . A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.

Proverbs 19:15 . . . A lazy person sleeps soundly-and goes hungry.

Proverbs 20:4 . . . If you are too lazy to plow in the right season, you will have no food at the harvest.

Proverbs 21:25 . . . The desires of lazy people will be their ruin, for their hands refuse to work.

Being careless with our responsibilities and talents jeopardizes our future.

Matthew 12:36 . . . I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.

We will give an account to God for our careless words.

HOW CAN WE AVOID CARELESSNESS?

Deuteronomy 6:12 . . . Be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 4:9 . . . Watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the Lord do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

Deuteronomy 31:12 . . . Call them all together-men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns-so they may listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of this law.

We should make remembering what the Lord has done for us a priority which we reinforce by sharing what the Lord has done in our lives and in the lives of others.

Deuteronomy 12:32 . . . Carefully obey all the commands I give you. Do not add to them or subtract from them.

Deuteronomy 4:1 . . . Listen carefully to these laws and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.

2 Chronicles 27:6 . . . King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

Proverbs 3:1 . . . My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart.

Deuteronomy 5:1 . . . Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully to all the laws and regulations I am giving you today. Learn them and be sure to obey them!”

Deuteronomy 11:22 . . . Be careful to obey all the commands I give you; show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and clinging to him.

We are to diligently pay attention to and obey the Lord.

Hebrews 6:10-12 . . . God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other Christians, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep right 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.

Ephesians 5:15 . . . Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise.

Our lifestyles are to reflect wise choices. We are to naturally and regularly show our love for others to avoid becoming spiritually dull and indifferent.

Colossians 3:23 . . . Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Romans 12:11 . . . Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

To avoid becoming careless in our responsibilities, we should do our work enthusiastically for the Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:12 . . . If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.

Proverbs 31:27 . . . She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness.

Deuteronomy 8:11, 14 . . . Be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and laws. . . . that is the time to be careful. Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 . . . Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living.

We need to be aware of areas and times of vulnerability. Where we are vulnerable is where we are most careless and our weaknesses are exposed. Everyone should determine where they are most vulnerable, and carefully strengthen those areas of life.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF CARELESSNESS?

Matthew 7:26-27 . . . “Anyone who hears my teaching and ignores 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 fall with a mighty crash.”

Leviticus 18:4, 30; 19:37 . . . “You must obey all my regulations and be careful to keep my laws, for I, the Lord, am your God. . . . So be careful to obey my laws, and do not practice any of these detestable activities. Do not defile yourselves by doing any of them, for I, the Lord, am your God . . . You must be careful to obey all of my laws and regulations, for I am the Lord.”

Joshua 22:5 . . . Be very careful to obey all the commands and the law that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, be faithful to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.

Psalm 85:8 . . . I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his people, his faithful ones. But let them not return to their foolish ways.

Disobedience is a sign of carelessness in our relationship with God. Disobedience is being careless with sin and in our personal lifestyle. Watch for the first sign of disobedience to God in your life.

Proverbs 22:13 . . . The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, “If I go outside, I might meet a lion in the street and be killed!”

Proverbs 26:13 . . . The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, “I can’t go outside because there might be a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”

Making excuses is a sign we are being careless with our responsibilities. When we make excuses to get ourselves off the hook, we become careless about doing the right thing.

Judges 11:31, 35 . . . “I will give to the Lord the first thing coming out of my house to greet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” . . . When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish. “My daughter!” he cried out. “My heart is breaking! What a tragedy that you came out to greet me. For I have made a vow to the Lord and cannot take it back.”

Genesis 25:32-34 . . . “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” So Jacob insisted, “Well then, swear to me right now that it is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his younger brother. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank and went on about his business, indifferent to the fact that he had given up his birthright.

Matthew 14:6-9 . . . At a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with an oath to give her anything she wanted. At her mother’s urging, the girl asked, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” The king was sorry, but because of his oath and because he didn’t want to back down in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.

Making rash vows is a sign that we are being careless with our speech. Think very carefully before making any vow. If you can’t keep it, don’t make it.

PROMISE FROM GOD:

Hebrews 2:1 . . . We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

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