One of the most common and successful strategies Satan uses against men is when he whispers in your year and tells you that things are just fine and no more effort is needed. There is a reason he does this and over the next few weeks, I want to take you on a short, 3 part journey about the dangers of thinking that you are “Good Enough” or you are “Satisfied” in life so now you can coast.
Let me give you an example: Have you ever caught yourself sitting on the couch, looking around your house and thinking, “You know what? Things are fine. My job pays the bills, my wife isn’t complaining too much, and the kids are doing okay in school… Maybe I’ve actually made it to my destination?”
On the surface, you may think that sounds like peace. But if we are honest with ourselves, that feeling often isn’t peaceful at all. Rather, it is what we call complacency and what I want to unpack some of this topic with you.
What exactly is complacency? Webster’s defines it is “a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements”
That is about right.
Complacency is a subtle, sneaky feeling of self-satisfaction with where you are. It is a comfortable zone where you convince yourself that you’ve “arrived”. But here is the brutal truth, guys: in life, in your marriage, and in our faith, we cannot ever just sit still and do nothing.
It reminds me of the story of the frog in the pot. Have you heard this one? According to the myth, if you drop a frog into boiling water, it jumps out immediately. But if you put it in cool water and slowly heat it, the frog does not notice the danger and will boil to death. Apparently, over time, the frog doesn’t notice.
In this life, you are either moving forward, or you are sliding backward. When you settle for good enough or just okay, or worse, you stop putting in the effort and stop paying attention to the details, you become oblivious to the slow leaks or the heat changing as it is taking down your life.
Jesus had a very hard conversation with the church in Laodicea when delivered this strong message:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” — Revelation 3:15-16
Lukewarm is by far the worst name one can be called by God.
To be neither hot or cold is a first class ticket to sure destruction. Guys, Christ NEVER called us to a complacent, lukewarm or “take it easy” kind of life. He called us to be all-in and live with passionate conviction. Jesus tells us the story of the Rich Fool in Luke 12— about a guy who built bigger barns just so he could sit back, eat, drink, and take life easy. God called him a fool because he prioritized earthly comfort over his spiritual responsibility. Did you catch that?
Guys, without a doubt, complacency will destroy what you’ve spent your life building. It will turn a loving marriage into a quiet partnership of roommates, which you won’t like. It will also distance you from your kids. And, it will make your faith a passive Sunday routine instead of a daily pursuit.
It can happen to you just like the frog I mentioned, slowly changing over time.
Remember, Satan is perfectly willing to play the long game so please don’t settle for “good enough.” God did not create you to be someone who just cruises on autopilot; He built you to lead, to love, and to serve with everything you’ve got.
So here is my challenge to you:
I encourage you to pick one area of your life—whether it is your marriage, or your role as a father or husband or even your walk with God—specifically an area where you may have been coasting.
Then focus on it directly and stop doing the bare minimum. Ask God to help you.
I urge you all to step up, take action, and re-engage today.
Until next time, guys…
