Apathy

​Jimmy Buffett once said, “Is it ignorance or apathy? Hey, I don't know and I don't care.”  In one sentence he precisely illustrated the great sin of apathy.   Bodie Thoene noted that “Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand.”  Any person with passion and purpose understands what a threat it is to be surrounded or partnered with those of an indifferent ilk.   ​

Meditation
Proverbs 1:22,24,25,29-32—“How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge? . . . Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention, since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction . . . Because they hated knowledge,didn’t choose to fear the Lord, were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction, they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes. For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them,and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
 
Apathy is based upon ignorance and complacency.  Solomon reveals in numerous proverbs that it is actually an opponent of wisdom.  The word comes from the Greek word apátheia which means insensibility to suffering; unfeeling.Apathy is characterized by mocking, disdain for knowledge, refusing to pay attention, ignoring counsel, rejecting or suppressing correction, laziness, absence or withholding of passion, excitement or emotion, and lack of interest. 

Solomon noted that “The slacker craves, yet has nothing . . . A slacker’s craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work . . . The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing” (Pro. 13:4, 21:25, 20:4).
            
How do you help someone who is apathetic?  Perhaps the simple answer is you don’t.  Until there is a spiritual “wake-up call” nothing can be done for the one who doesn’t care.  Spending time and resources to help the unhelpable is a sure recipe for unnecessary pain.  At best you should pray for that person to recognize and repent of complacency while you continue to model wise living.  
            
​What can you do if you are afflicted with apathy?  I think the answer to this question requires recognizing that unconcern dishonors and disrespects God.  There is nothing edifying in “I don’t care” behavior.  Imagine the horror if God cared nothing about you!  To be unfeeling causes pain to others.  So there must be an awakening to the fact that apathy is harmful and hopefully that awareness will result in movement to care, to change, and to embrace wise behavior.  Ask your loving Father for help for He cares for you.  
 
Inspiration
Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all—the apathy of human beings.—Helen Keller
 
©2020 Daniel York ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)