Fervent in Spirit

“not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Rom 12:11

As I meditate on Matt 25:24-30 today, the message of diligence and active service in our faith journey weighs heavily on my heart. Slothfulness, or spiritual laziness, can subtly seep into our lives, hindering our spiritual growth and impacting our ability to fulfil God’s purposes.

What does it mean to be slothful? It goes beyond physical laziness; it involves neglecting vital spiritual disciplines such as prayer, studying the Scriptures, and boldly preaching the Gospel. When we grow complacent in these areas, we risk missing out on the abundant life God intends for us and failing to effectively witness His love to others.

Prov 26:13-15 illustrates the folly of making excuses and procrastinating:

“The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!’ As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.”

In the parable of the two sons in Matt 21:28-31, Jesus contrasts mere words with genuine action:

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.”

As Christians, how can we guard against slothfulness? Matt 25:41-46 teaches us that our eternal destiny hinges on how we actively preach the Gospel and serve others in love:

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Therefore, let us heed the call to conquer slothfulness as pilgrims journeying towards the Kingdom of God. Let us embrace the Great Commission with fervour, preaching the Gospel boldly and making disciples diligently. Let us use our time on earth wisely, honouring God with our actions and staying steadfast in prayer and study of His Word.

Let us follow Paul’s example in 2 Tim 4:1-2, always ready to share our faith with patience and wisdom:

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

Let us encourage one another in this journey, spurring each other on towards love and good deeds.

Dear friends, let us rise up as a diligent and faithful Church, eagerly awaiting Christ’s return. Let us cast off any traces of slothfulness and instead, with joy and perseverance, pursue God’s Kingdom with all our hearts, knowing that our labour in the Lord is not in vain.

I love you all.