Many believers easily and quickly become complacent in their walk with the Lord. Some show great zeal right after their conversions, and when that zeal starts fading away, instead of seeing it as a call to mature, to start adopting Christ’s culture, they become more and more complacent, they nurture the sins they have never overcame, they become complacent and are contented with the feelings they have when they worship the Lord, etc. My brother, my sister, in this passage, after Apostle Paul makes a catalogue of sins of the Corinthians, it is hard to believe that these are the same people he said possessed great gifts and excelled as leaders: “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7).
Now, looking closely into what Apostle Paul is reproaching them now, we find out they have now excelled in practicing wickedness “many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged” (verse 21). You see, Apostle Paul was preparing to visit this church and was pointing out what was going on in their midst (discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder)! what a shame!
In fact, what we learn from this passage is that despite having accepted Christ, these Christians have never truly adopted Christ’s culture, that is the reason why their complacency slowly but surely made them lose the gifts that Lord had given them. Calling yourself a Christian without trying to change your language and behaviour is nothing less than saying you have faith but your works are not supporting what you say: “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). In short, as followers of Christ, we must live differently from unbelievers, not allowing secular society to dictate how we are to treat others, because the world has it’s own culture and Christianity has it’s culture, which starts with the renewal of our mind, our love for the others including our enemies… My friend, don’t let the world’s culture influence your walk with Jesus, because the two do not go together and in the end, it is you who lose. Your culture has to change through the way you talk or behave. Jesus is coming back soon. Is He saying this to you today: “I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be”? (verse 20). Don’t be complacent, change and do what is right according to His Word while preparing to receive Him. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.