Those unfortunate souls who meander through life caring about nothing are at least consistently predictable.

Even the tiniest seeds of indifference have power to produce a bitter harvest of stagnation and decay.

Robert Hutchins, the respected American educator, once predicted, “The death of a democracy is not likely to be an assassination by ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference and undernourishment.”

And what is true for governments is no less true of churches.

Consider the first-century congregation at Laodicea, a church which, at least on the surface, appeared to have no problems. This church smugly boasted, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” In reality, they were “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17.)

Just what was at the root of Laodicea’s problem? Indifference. Take note of heaven’s indictment against them: “I know your works, that you are neither cold or hot: I would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16.)

Here was a church with tremendous potential but no motivation; worlds of opportunity, but no desire; everywhere for good to go, but with absolutely no interest in getting started. Here was a church decaying from within, suffering “a slow extinction” brought on by little more than apathy and indifference.

The crown of righteousness awaits those who can say as did Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7,8.) And such requires, not laziness and complacency, but grit, desire and genuine enthusiasm for the things of God.

Perhaps Ephesians 4:14 should be made our daily motto: “Awake you who sleep, and arise from the dead . . .”