As Christians, an I don’t care attitude should never be in our hearts because what’s in our hearts eventually comes out through our mouths and actions. The burden for souls to be saved and truth to go forward must be our primary focus. I know we have emotions and feelings, but we can’t be ruled by them. If we get caught up in our feelings and emotions, who’s going to share the Gospel and practical life skills with this generation and the next?
People are always watching to see how Christians are going to respond. We are not expected to be super Christian, but we must recognize that our life is not our own. He must increase, but I (we) must decrease John 3:30. You (we) represent Christ Jesus and we are a peculiar people set apart. Our lives in every aspect must represent the Almighty. Let us teach others that actions and words matter, and in a moment they can alter a situation for good or bad.
Christ’s examples
Have you ever spoke too soon because you were operating in your feelings and emotions? You figured you would get them before they got you, and completely turned the situation upside down. The outcome is now a broken relationship because we didn’t care enough to guard our mouths and listen. The tongue can slay someone to their core and leave lifelong scars. If you have been on the receiving end of an out-of-control tongue, you know the damage it can cause. As Christians, we need to learn from Christ’s examples to be factual, strategic, compassionate, and merciful.
One example that stands out is John 8:1-11 about the woman that was caught committing adultery. The Scribes and Pharisees were making a spectacle of her and they were trying to set up Jesus so they could accuse and find fault with Him. Jesus shut it down, He said, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. Conviction by their own conscience came upon them and they went out one by one from the eldest to the last. No filthy communication came out of the Lord’s mouth, He didn’t argue or fight. He spoke the WORD. We must care enough about relationships to speak the truth with love and compassion. With love, Jesus acknowledged her sin and called out the Scribes and Pharisees about theirs without condemning. Remember, God will never condone something He forbids.
Different levels of opinions
I understand that some people’s thoughts and opinions we don’t take to heart and allow them to affect our decision-making. They don’t carry as much weight as others, but from a spiritual perspective don’t dismiss the opportunity for a teachable moment. Some people are really searching for something greater than themselves. They desire to gain knowledge, insight, and truth. You can be the vessel that leads them to Christ or at least plants the seed. If you turn them away and don’t take the time, you may have potentially just handed them over to the devil. At a minimum, stop and take time to sincerely pray for them. Remember, they have a soul and the devil will stop at nothing to try and get it.
Someone cared for you
Along the way, someone has prayed, said a kind word, smiled, patted you on the back, invited you to an event, talked and listened to you, offered assistance, complimented you, hugged you, showed an authentic interest in you, and so on. There was a time that I dismissed that care, because of a hardened heart. I was hurt and bruised allowing the pain to cause me not to receive the genuine care of another.
If you have developed an I don’t care attitude, ask yourself why and do business with the Lord. He wants to work through your issues, even if it’s with Him. Don’t allow a careless and thoughtless mindset to break fellowship with the Lord and miss opportunities for your loved ones to hear about Christ’s work on the cross. Remember, the ones you come alongside are emulating your examples and following in your footsteps. If you don’t care, chances are higher they won’t care. If they see you calling on Jesus, chances are higher they will call on Jesus.
People that care
I praise God for putting people that care in my life. People that care about the things Christ cares about and acts on them. These are people that speak life into me and encourage me to love on a deeper level. They take the calling to serve others by sharing Christ seriously. Surround yourself with people that are mindful of their actions and words honoring the Lord. They are of value and should not be taken for granted. Most importantly I am grateful beyond measure that Christ cared and went to the cross even though my sin sent Him there. Meditate on that when you are tempted to not care for someone or about a situation, that the Savior unconditionally cared for you.
In conclusion
Having an I don’t care attitude can hinder us from going beyond where we are. Don’t expect to go further if you are not nurturing and cultivating growth where you’re at with the right heart. Secretly and inwardly we can have an attitude that does not care. People may not know, but remember we serve the omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient Creator. There’s always a deeper reason or issue for why we do what we do. Do business with the Lord, allow Him to search your heart to find any wicked and unclean things that are stunting your development. He can heal you, and you can get back to living out loud for Christ and reaping the blessing of an I care attitude.
ACTION ITEM(S)
- Is there anything that has caused you to develop an I don’t care attitude?
- Get in to pray and utilize your saved accountablity partner.
- Have you dismissed or been harsh with someone? If so, ask God for the courage to make it right.
- Pray for a conscience that is always heeding the Holy Spirit.
This is such a powerful post and very rich. We live in a time,especially today, when everyone is out for themselves dog eat dog, the me generation or should I say “it’s all about me generation”. I love what you said Carol “Do business with God”. What a great business partner to have, the best! I think about Jude 3 where the word tells us to contend for the faith, stand up for it tell people about it, don’t be afraid to speak of the good things of God. I would say that that’s our reasonable service, it’s reasonable!
Lastly, you spoke about John 8 and how those that were accusing the woman left and drop their Stones the eldest first because we know that the older you are the longer you lived the more sins you/we probably committed. We all know that hurt people hurt people. Yet, we in the body of Christ, we have to remember that by His stripes we have been healed and made whole so who are we to operate in offense, to not care? He loves us so much, with a never-ending love! Again, I will stay as you did Carol, let us do business with God! let us allow him to take that hurt, that pain, that offense, and use it to help somebody else. Let us see others as God sees you/me, through Christs’s shed blood, cleansed and forgiven. God Bless
Darla, You are right we can be a selfish people if we are not careful. I am in agreement that Jesus is the best business partner! Praise God He makes me whole!!! Thank you Darla for your comment.
Thank you for this reminder! Sometimes the waves of life can shift us to the “I don’t care attitude”. But I am sooo glad the Lord always throw out the lifeline and reel me back in!
Lisa, Amen! Thank you for your comment!