What does the Bible say about apathy?

Question:

What does the Bible say about apathy, that is, when you do not care about your future? So many young people today are apathetic, i.e. they care neither about their personal future nor about future, in general.

The dictionary gives us the following definition of the word apathy:

APATHY – Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference. [Latin apatha, from Greek apatheia, from apaths, without feeling : a-, without; see a-1 + pathos,feeling; see kwent(h)- in Indo-European roots.]

Apathy, or this state of total disinterest on any matter and especially on future is characteristic not only of young people, but of many people today. Let us see what God says in Scripture about this condition.

Apathy is the complacency of fools

So apathy is described by King Solomon in the book of Proverbs. All this book is addressed to young people and from the first chapter it urges them to leave the apathy and take heed to the Word of God. In the second part of chapter 1 of the book of Proverbs, the author uses a personification and we are presented the desperate cry and call the wisdom makes to the apathetic ones:

Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. (Proverbs 1:20-23)(NASB)

But because they do not want to take heed, wisdom warns them about the consequences the apathetic ones should expect …

Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; and you neglected all my counsel and did not want my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, when your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but they will not find me. (Proverbs 1:24-28)(NASB)

Then the author shows the causes of apathy among young people …

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD. They would not accept my counsel,
They spurned all my reproof. (Proverbs 1:29-30)(NASB)

And the list of consequences for those who live in apathy continues …

So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. But he who listens to me shall live securely
and will be at ease from the dread of evil. (Proverbs 1:31-33)(NASB)

I draw attention once again that apathy to holy things and to future is defined here as the waywardness of the naive and complacency of fools.

Do not be apathetic to the dangers the future holds

In the book that bears his name, prophet Isaiah warned people about the dangers that would come upon Israel, but almost no one wanted to take heed. Therefore, at one point he wrote:

Rise up, you women who are at ease, and hear my voice; give ear to my word, you complacent daughters. Within a year and a few days you will be troubled, O complacent daughters; for the vintage is ended, and the fruit gathering will not come. Tremble, you women who are at ease; be troubled, you complacent daughters; strip, undress and put sackcloth on your waist, beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. (Isaiah 32:9-12)(NASB)

In the book of the prophet Ezekiel, when God rebuked His people for disloyalty to Him, He compared them with a woman who had committed fornication and had surpassed Sodom in doing evil and thus, He compared and personified the city of Sodom with a woman again, saying

Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. (Ezekiel 16:49)(NASB)

The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were indulged in unimaginable fornication, perversion and evil, yet they believed that there would be no consequences for all that. But the consequences did not delay – these cities were destroyed by God with fire that came down from heaven. Today many young people live in apathy and they think that they can live their life how they want because they will not suffer and their sins will have no consequences. Let not one be deceived by this, but hurry to repent of their sins.

Do not be apathetic towards the salvation of your soul

In the Epistle to Hebrews, the author says since the second chapter of the book:

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. (Hebrews 2:1-4)(NASB)

Do not be apathetic, Beloved, to your future in eternity. Understand that your soul is eternal and it can be saved, so that you may rejoice for eternity in God’s presence in His kingdom, or go into an eternal suffering where all those who rejected the salvation offered through Jesus Christ will go. Do not be careless, but hurry up to enter the New Covenant with Jesus Christ and be saved.

Do not be an apathetic Christian

In the first epistle to Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote to his beloved disciple the following words:

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. (1 Timothy 4:14)(NASB)

Every Christian received some gifts from the Holy Spirit when he entered the New Covenant with Jesus Christ and was born again. We received these spiritual gifts to serve the Church of Christ, or saints that make up this church. How do you use the gift or gifts you have received? Do not be careless or apathetic to the gifts you have received, but serve others through them.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru