Indifference
by: Dalton Gilreath

I.                Introduction

A.    Indifference has been called the “dry rot of the soul”

                                                    i.     It is a silent killer like carbon monoxide

                                                   ii.     It may not be a loud, aggressive sin but it will kill us gently

B.    Satan may not be tempting you to murder, but apathy can easily set in

C.    There are examples in the Bible of indifferent people who simply sat down and enjoyed life while people were hurting

                                                    i.     Consider three examples with me

II.              The brothers of Joseph

A.    Joseph’s father Jacob show Joseph preferential treatment

                                                    i.     His older brothers hated him because of it (Gen 37:1-5)

                                                   ii.     Jacob gave him a coat of many colors signifying he was the overseer of his brothers

1.     They were very envious of Joseph

B.    Joseph had some dreams about being their leader and told them

                                                    i.     They hated Joseph even more

C.    One day Joseph was looking for them and found them away from their work

                                                    i.     The brothers plotted to kill him originally, but decided to throw him in a pit

                                                   ii.     After doing so, “they sat down” to eat a meal (Gen 37:25)

D.    Can you imagine sitting down as if everything is fine?

                                                    i.     This is indifference toward their brother

E.    Sometimes we can be indifferent towards our brethren

                                                    i.     How often do we ignore the needs of weaker brethren (1 John 3:17)

                                                   ii.     How often do we visit the shut in and sick

                                                 iii.     How often do we call and send cards

F.    Paul said to have the same care one for another (1 Cor 12:24-25)

                                                    i.     When we hit our thumb with a hammer the other hand reaches over to grab it

1.     We need to be the other hand and help our brethren when they are hurting

G.   Sometimes we can especially be indifferent towards erring brethren

                                                    i.     Paul says the spiritual must restore the weak (Gal 6:1)

                                                   ii.     The word restore means to “set the bone” as if it is broken

                                                 iii.     Jesus says that this love for each other is how men know we are truly His disciples (John 13:34-35)

III.            Haman

A.    Mordecai would not bow down to Haman even though commanded to do so by King Ahasuerus (Esther 3)

                                                    i.     Haman was so angry he convinced the king to have all the Jews killed

                                                   ii.     The king agreed and sent out a royal decree to kill every one of them including woman and children

                                                 iii.     After the decree went out they simply sat down to drink (3:15)

B.    How could they be so indifferent to a people destined to die

                                                    i.     We can be no better sometimes as we are indifferent to a lost and dying world

1.     Someone has said the unchurched alone is the 5^th largest nation in the world

2.     Are we indifferent towards them

                                                   ii.     Jesus gave us the ability and power to change the world

1.     Are we indifferent toward this command

IV.            The soldiers

A.    A final example is the soldiers at the foot of the cross

                                                    i.     They gambled over Jesus’ garments and then just sat and watched him hanging on the cross (Matt 27:34-36)

B.    Now, if we are indifferent toward the things He died for are we any better than these soldiers

                                                    i.     Are we indifferent toward the church He bought (Acts 20:28)

                                                   ii.     Are we indifferent toward the New Testament He set in motion (Matt 26:28)

1.     When is the last time we opened the Bible outside of services

C.    Paul said we can be the “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil 3:18)

D.    Are we like the attitude of Jeremiah’s day as it means nothing to us (Lam 1:12)

E.    Indifference makes us no better than Joseph’s brothers, Haman, or the soldiers at the foot of the cross

                                                    i.     After all, our outcome eternally will be the same if we don’t repent