Reluctance

1. What if someone asked us to define the word “reluctance.” What would we say?

2. What if we were asked if the Bible talks about reluctance? Could we give some examples?

IF WE STUDY THE WORD OF GOD WE FIND RELUCTANCE; IT IS BOTH EXPLAINED AND ILLUSTRATED.

a) We heard the Scripture reading from Acts 9:10-13.

b) A person was told to go and see the one we know as Paul and the man hesitated; he was reluctant.

c) He had some uncertainty about doing what God told him to do.

d) The reluctance in Acts 9 has not gone by the wayside.

e) People think they should do something or know they should do something but they hesitate.

2) Jesus once said to a man, “follow me” (Lk. 9:59).

3) While on the earth Jesus said this to more than one man.

4) One time He spoke these words to a man named Matthew and Matthew followed.

5) In the case of Lk. 9, there was a different reaction.

a) The man said to Jesus, “Lord, I need to first go and bury my father.”

b) The word “follow” in Lk. 9:59 meant to “cleave steadfastly to someone.”

c) Jesus was saying to this man, “make a full-time commitment to me.”

d) The man Jesus spoke with was reluctant to do that.

e) Many have asked about the man’s father—were there really funeral arrangements to be made?

f) If the man really meat what he said, we must ask this question.

g) If he were really in a state of grief and mourning, why was He in the presence of the Lord?

h) Jesus knew about the man’s circumstances and He condemned the man’s reluctance.

6) Like the man in Lk. 9, we can be reluctant to do certain things in the Christian life.

7) That reluctance can encompass a wide variety of areas.

8) When these times come, we can mentally compare ourselves with the man in Lk. 9.

9) Why are we being reluctant? Is there a good reason or are we just not too motivated?

10) If we find out that we have chosen a path of deliberate reluctance, we need to re-think our choice.

11) An attitude opposite the one in Lk. 9 is found in the Old Testament (Gen. 24).

a) In this chapter we learn that Abraham was old and he wanted to find a wife for Isaac.

b) His servant went to the right place and encountered a woman by the name of Rebekah.

c) Finally the servant was taken into the home where Rebekah lived.

d) When the servant arrived he was offered food but he would not eat it.

e) Gen. 24:33 – READ.

12) Here is a man who was reluctant to the point of outright refusal.

13) He said he would not eat food until he explained his mission.

a) We normally think of reluctance in only one-way: not doing something we should.

b) Here is another aspect to this topic.

c) There may be some things that we want to do but we refuse to do them until something else is done.

d) Parents sometimes use this approach with their children.

e) If a child accomplishes a certain task, then they can do something fun.

f) The word reluctance tells us we may put some good things off till a little later to do the will of God.

14) Reluctance is an important subject because it can have some significant bearing on our relationship with God.

a) The Bible may specifically tell us some things but we may be reluctant about what it says.

b) Consider an example from the Old Testament; the text is 1 Sam.13.

c) Saul had been king for a year.

d) During his reign Samuel the prophet was active, and these two had communication with each other.

e) Samuel told Saul that he would come to him and the king was to wait for him.

f) Samuel said he would be along in 7 days.

g) There was a large enemy force and the soldiers from Israel were scared (verse 6).

h) Saul decided to take action – verse 9 – READ.

i) Saul was not the right fellow to offer the sacrifice.

j) Samuel had said “wait for me” but Saul did not wait.

k) Soon after Saul finished the sacrifice Samuel came; he condemned the king.

l) Do you know what the king said? “Yes I sacriiced, but I did it reluctantly” – verse 12 – READ.

15) A lot of people will surely make claims about reluctance on the Day of Judgment.

a) They may say they did indeed stay away from worship, but they were reluctant to do it.

b) Others may claim there were situations that made them reluctant to be more involved.

c) Saul did not find any mercy on claiming reluctance in his sin.

d) He lost his kingdom. Reluctance is often serious stuff.

16) We can find specific examples of reluctant people in both testaments.

17) We can also find general principles in regard to this subject.

18) Solomon was a very, very wise man. Much of his wisdom is found in the proverbs.

a) In the book of Proverbs (3:28) Solomon pictured someone like a neighbor.

b) This person is need of something; perhaps he needs to move a piece of furniture.

c) Maybe he needs to borrow a tool or a cooking ingredient.

d) In this proverb he said, “If you can help today, do not tell the person to come back tomorrow.”

19) This little truth can hit home for a lot of people.

20) It is really easy to push a matter off until later in the day, tomorrow, next week, or an even later time.

21) Reluctance is related to a whole host of other actions that are usually not favorable.

22) Thus, when we have the time, opportunity and resources to do something it should be done.

23) Jesus once said He had to “work while it was day.”

24) He knew the danger in being reluctant.

25) If we are reluctant, a time will come when it is no longer “daytime” for us.

26) It will be nighttime, the lights will be out, and further opportunities will be forever lost.

a) When we deal with people we will sometimes have to face reluctance.

b) In the book of Acts (the 24^th chapter) we read about a ruler named Felix.

c) This man was married; he and his wife attended some Bible studies.

d) Their teacher was the apostle Paul.

e) This official heard enough of the gospel that he was “terrified” (Acts 24:25).

f) Many seem to have the idea that a Bible study is always a cheery experience.

g) It’s great when they are, and many of them do turn out that way.

h) This fellow heard some information that frightened him.

i) In spite of responding to information that could have saved his soul, he showed reluctance.

27) He said (Acts 24:25), “Go thy way for this time. When I have a convenient season I will call you back.”

28) In one form or another the man was reluctant to respond to the truth.

29) We see this same thing today.

a) Some are reluctant because the think Christianity will require them to be too different from the world.

b) Others are reluctant because they see Christianity as just another obligation.

c) Some may hesitate because of friends or family.

d) Satan likes reluctance; this is one of His tools and it is very, very effective.

30) Reluctance in responding to God is an age-old problem and it can affect the best of people.

a) In 2 Pet. 2:7 the Bible tells us about an Old Testament character, Lot.

b) Peter says Lot was a “righteous man.”

c) He did not make some of the wisest choices, but he wanted to do what was right.

d) Even though Lot was a righteous man, he struggled with reluctance.

31) Most of remember a little verse in the Old Testament, Gen. 19:16.

32) This verse is Gen. 19:16.

a) Morning dawned and it was time for Lot and his family to flee from their home.

b) The area they were in was going to be consumed.

c) The Bible says angels “hastened” Lot.

d) If we have ever tried to hustle children out of a house, we can probably identify with that statement.

e) At the start of verse 16 the text Lot “lingered.”

f) This man showed some reluctance.

33) In view of this verse we must say good people—even the best people—can be reluctant.

34) We can be reluctant in giving a tract to someone.

35) We may be reluctant in making a phone call to check on someone who has been missing.

36) We may be reluctant at making a visit or a dozen other things.

37) Reluctance is something to be identified and overcome.

38) In Acts 1 the Bible says the apostles were able to watch the Lord ascend back to heaven.

39) The text the says these men were asked why they were standing there looking into heaven.

40) They had seen the Lord go but He would return again.

a) It seems they were reluctant to move on to what needed to be done.

b) Today people can be reluctant to move on in various parts of their lives.

41) Last Friday my e-mail devotional involved a preacher who had a casket wheeled into the auditorium.

42) This man wanted people to “bury” some things.

43) He wanted them, figuratively speaking, to bury hate, anger, malice,

44) It was time to put these things away and “move on.”

45) People can be reluctant to move on when they have been injured by another.

46) They want to nurse the hurt and keep that injury alive.

a) This type of thing is mentioned time and time again in the New Testament.

b) Many times men have been reluctant to move when God has said “go.”

47) What about us?

48) Have we struggled with reluctance?

49) Are there things we should be doing but have been reluctant to do?

50) Is there a change of life that we need to make but we have been reluctant to take?

51) God gives us time to overcome this but our opportunities are limited.

52) Tonight may be our last one.

53) If we have been reluctant in one way or another, now is the time to say, “no longer”