War Against Softness and Laziness
If we do not want to come under the curse, whose terrible consequences will be revealed in eternity, we have to renounce all softness, all laziness in our lives; we have to declare war on it. Jesus’ cutting words, “Whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14: 33) also applies to our work for Jesus. If we cannot give up our demands for comfort, for much free time and rest, for better pay, they will make it impossible for us to use our time and energy for Jesus. If a soldier were laden with many items for his personal comfort, he could never go to war. Nor can we ever become soldiers for Jesus Christ, or true disciples, if we do this. And quite aside from this, softness and laziness open the door to many other sins which really make us unfit for service.
This battle of faith against softness is more important than ever before, because we are now approaching “hard times”, times when we will be persecuted for His name’s sake. Now we must conquer all softness and laziness in the power of Jesus’ redemption, so that they will not be our downfall in the hour of temptation. It was not by chance that Peter changed from disciple to betrayer while he was warming himself by the fire.
–Basilia Schlink