Reading: Zephaniah 1
My Verse: ". . . I will punish the men
who are complacent,
those who say in their hearts,
The LORD will not do good,
nor will he do ill" (Zephaniah 1:12).
Complacency is an interesting concept.
1. My online dictionary: a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like. Self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.
2. Oxford dictionary: a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievement.
3. Merriam-Webster: self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. An instance of usually unaware or uninformed self-satisfaction
4. Cambridge Dictionary: a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder
Some synonyms for complacency:
conceit, license, indulgence, presumptuousness, licentiousness . . .
Some interesting quotes re complacency:
"You will never be entirely comfortable. This is the truth behind the champion - he is always fighting something. To do otherwise is to settle." -Julien Smith, The Finch
"You all know," said the Guide, "that security is mortals' greatest enemy." -CSLewis, The Pilgrim's Regress
"It is a wretched taste to be gratified with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us."
-Isaac Disraeli
You, LORD God, warn us throughout scripture of the deadliness of this kind of attitude. It is false, a false sense of security.
"And I'll say to myself,
"You have plenty of grain laid up for many years.
Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry" (Luke 12:19).
"This is the way of an adulterous woman;
She eats and wipes her mouth and says,
"I've done nothing wrong" (Proverbs 30:20).
"And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them
will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand" (Matthew 7:26).
"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them . . . (Proverbs 1:32).
"So, if you think you are standing firm,
be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12).
Finally, what You say to those who choose to be complacent should awaken one out of this state of smug self satisfaction.
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you.
Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" (Luke 12:20).
Thank You, LORD God for this reminder about complacency. To be complacent about anything is to be lazy, careless. I am afraid I am often guilty of this - help me today to keep my eyes focused on You and on that person You would have me to be.
Awareness That Sets You Up To Win
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: ". . . I will punish the men
who are complacent,
those who say in their hearts,
The LORD will not do good,
nor will he do ill" (Zephaniah 1:12).
Complacency is an interesting concept.
1. My online dictionary: a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like. Self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.
2. Oxford dictionary: a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievement.
3. Merriam-Webster: self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. An instance of usually unaware or uninformed self-satisfaction
4. Cambridge Dictionary: a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder
Some synonyms for complacency:
conceit, license, indulgence, presumptuousness, licentiousness . . .
Some interesting quotes re complacency:
"You will never be entirely comfortable. This is the truth behind the champion - he is always fighting something. To do otherwise is to settle." -Julien Smith, The Finch
"You all know," said the Guide, "that security is mortals' greatest enemy." -CSLewis, The Pilgrim's Regress
"It is a wretched taste to be gratified with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us."
-Isaac Disraeli
You, LORD God, warn us throughout scripture of the deadliness of this kind of attitude. It is false, a false sense of security.
"And I'll say to myself,
"You have plenty of grain laid up for many years.
Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry" (Luke 12:19).
"This is the way of an adulterous woman;
She eats and wipes her mouth and says,
"I've done nothing wrong" (Proverbs 30:20).
"And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them
will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand" (Matthew 7:26).
"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them . . . (Proverbs 1:32).
"So, if you think you are standing firm,
be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12).
Finally, what You say to those who choose to be complacent should awaken one out of this state of smug self satisfaction.
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you.
Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" (Luke 12:20).
Thank You, LORD God for this reminder about complacency. To be complacent about anything is to be lazy, careless. I am afraid I am often guilty of this - help me today to keep my eyes focused on You and on that person You would have me to be.
Awareness That Sets You Up To Win
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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