Paying attention to the welfare of our souls

The inspiration for today’s editorial lesson comes from a couple of my favorite sources; hymns and human interest stories of things or events that help teach spiritual lessons.  There are actually two hymns that tie into our lesson and I’m quite sure that both are familiar to you.  They are songs that serve to warn us of spiritual danger as does my little story.

First, the two songs I’m referring to are (1) “Drifting Too Far From The Shore” and (2) “Drifting Along.”  From these two titles I’m pretty sure that you’ll have no trouble getting the “drift” of our lesson.  (I know, that’s a terrible pun).  But, seriously, one of the dangers to our spiritual lives is getting complacent.  Of just “drifting along” and maybe not seeing that the world has encroached its way in.

I guess that we don’t have to look at the situation just through boating, maybe we can liken it to driving our cars.  Have you ever been traveling down the highway and listening to the radio or thinking about something other than paying attention to where you are and where you’re going?  I have, and I’m chagrined to admit that it’s happened more than once.  All of a sudden you realize that you’re on the wrong road.  Because of your inattention, you took a turn that you shouldn’t have or missed one that you should have.  You’re lost!

Paying attention to the welfare of our souls is the utmost duty of our earthly lives.  And one of the dangers to them is “complacency.”  Of just “drifting” along and not seeing the world working its ways into our lives.  I think the little story I’m about to tell you helps show us, not only the dangers involved but, how easy it is to slip into “complacency” and allowing our souls to “drift.”

A youth group decided to go on a group outing and arranged to take a sailing trip.  They all got on board the ship and it sailed away from port.  When they left, it was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the wind was brisk.  It seemed to be a great day for a sailing trip.

However, as they many times do, things changed.  The blue sky rapidly became dark and the brisk breeze became a threatening gale.  A sudden storm came up.  The gentle waves became 15 foot swells and was tossing the ship around like a toy.  The Captain got the youth leader and told him that the danger was grave.  He put him on the helm and told him to keep the ship on course.  If he didn’t they might not survive.

All night long the leader held the wheel and fought the storm.  There wasn’t a moments respite where he could take a break and rest.  As he steered the ship he prayed to God for the strength to maintain his duty.  To keep the ship on a steady course.  He continued to pray and he continued to battle the storm.

Finally, sometime in the wee hours of the morning, the storm abated and the fierce winds calmed down.  They pulled into a sheltered lagoon, dropped the anchor and took a much-needed rest.  The youth leader, along with the others, slipped off the ship and into the calm waters to relax for a while.

Because of his having fought the storm all night, the leader allowed himself to just float around and slowly his muscles relaxed.  In fact, he relaxed so much that he drifted quite a ways from the ship.  When he discovered this he started trying to swim back and discovered he was swimming against a receding tide.  He was rapidly tiring out.

He tried calling for help but was far enough away that the group couldn’t hear him.  Again, he prayed to God for the strength to over come the tide and make it safely back to the ship.  He continued to swim all the while getting weaker and weaker.  With his strength almost completely gone, he got to the ship and the others helped him on board.

As he lay there on the deck recovering, it came to him that he had just learned a great truth and a valuable lesson.  Over the past 24 hours he had been in great danger two times.  Once battling the storm and the second time drifting out to sea.  But, of the two, he was in more danger when “drifting” than when he was alert and standing fast.

What a lesson to us.  That our soul is in more danger when we’re being “complacent” and allowing ourselves to “drift.”  A good Bible word that serves as the antithesis of “complacency” and “drifting” is “diligent” or “diligence.”  Peter gives a great application of this word in 2 Pet. 1:10 where find that oft-used passage of warning: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make our calling and election sure: for if you do these things, ye shall never fall.”

Peter also tells us that our “adversary the devil” is like a “roaring lion” seeking those he can “devour.”  (2 Pet. 5:8)   When we’re not “diligent,” when we’re “complacent” and “drifting” through life, we become a far easier catch for him than when we’re on guard.

In closing, I like a phrase used by Solomon to wrap our thoughts here.  He tells us in Prov. 13:4 that the “soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”  (ESV)

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey