Apathy

The Bible addresses apathy through various verses and teachings, often linking it to spiritual disengagement and the consequences of sin. Here are some relevant Bible verses and insights:

Revelation 3:13-18: [13] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. [14] And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; [15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. [17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

• Laodicean had gold and riches, and fine clothes and actually produced an eye salve used all over the empire, but Paul was using the terms metaphorically. Their water which was aqueduct from a spring miles away but was often lukewarm by the time it got to the city which was a complaint of newcomers but the people had grown use to it.

[19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Ezekiel 2:4: "4 For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD."

• Ezekiel speaks to strongly obstinate children, who are resistant to spiritual messages and teachings, which is apathy.

Ecclesiastes 9:10: 7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 8 Let thy garments" be always white(לָבָן)‎; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion(חֵלֶק)‎ in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

• This verse encourages being a doer in life with works and responsibilities preferring diligence to apathy and sloth.

Proverbs 18:9: This verse warns against being slack in one’s work, which can be seen as a form of apathy, and compares it to the destructive behavior of someone who tears down structures.

Galatians 6:7-8: This passage discusses the consequences of sowing to the flesh versus sowing to the Spirit. It suggests that those who focus on satisfying their sinful desires may experience spiritual apathy and distance from God.

Ephesians 4:19: This verse describes the state of those who have become callous and past feeling due to spiritual apathy, leading them to indulge in impurity and sensuality.