Many years ago a city was built without defenses, although it was vulnerable to attack the people felt secure. An undetected large army came and set fire to the city, cutting off the food supply, leaving many starving and facing certain death.

With the city surrounded, and greatly outnumbered, no one could escape. Should they beg for their lives hoping that the women may be spared, or choose to fight?

The men of the city wondered if anything could be done.

The challenge facing the men in the story is still prevalent today. No it’s not swords and spears but a root problem I refer to as the silent killer of Christian men.

During bible school while conducting research, interviewing and surveying people in 2012 for my thesis about challenges with marriages, I found a problematic pattern specifically among men. I was so fascinated, I began to ask a more pointed question.

The responses are not relegated to a certain race, culture or socioeconomic status. The men I have spoken with and asked this question have very diverse backgrounds ranging from doctors, pastors, high level business men to retail workers. These are the men that you would consider talking to if you had a problem.

If you’re thinking to yourself, I can relate to something on the list; it does not make you sinful or unfit to follow God.

At first glance the responses appear to be unrelated, however, over time I recognized the common underlying issue. It also happens to be the same problem that affected the men in the story.

When the city was under siege, most people assume the initial problem started when the enemy attacked, however, that was simply the result of the real issue.

Remember that the city was built without the necessary defenses. The people thought they were secure and were unaware of the potential danger.

The men in the story along with the men I surveyed for the last 8 years have in common the same problem. COMPLACENCY!

Complacency is defined as having a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like.

Because of an attitude of complacency, the builders didn’t consider building watchtowers or other defenses. They lived with a false sense of security. They were attacked because their enemy saw vulnerability and an easy victory. It’s like a bully who looks for the easy target.

Complacency was the underlying issue among all the categories of responses. The comfort of the obstacle was easier to manage than the fight and work it would take to eradicate it.

Complacency is Satan’s strategy. When pressure comes instead of rising to the challenge you take flight and move toward comfort. As a Christian, once you know you are saved and receive salvation you feel comfortable and subconsciously over time you believe that is the finish line when it is actually the start of the race. It puts us in a position where the desire for comfort is more important than who God is calling you to be.

Let’s use a couple of examples from the list to prove the point.

If you’re married during the courtship of your wife you changed your routine and spent a lot of time together before you tied the knot. How about taking care of a sick relative or having a life changing experience. Your routine would change because consciously or subconsciously you place a higher value on the change needed versus the current routine. Therefore you would make the change. The hard truth is that it’s just not that important to you to make the commitment to who God wants you to be.

I need to be motivated or challenged.

Let’s be honest, there are things more important to you than your relationship with God. It could be your job, money, hobbies, the intrinsic desire to provide for your family and your basic needs. This is not to say you are evil but you truly need to know where things rank in your life. Your actions will always be a reflection of what you believe.

Now of course these things are real challenges but through Christ we have the strength to overcome all of these obstacles.

Have you noticed the responses to the question I posed about obstacles to our relationship with God are the similar obstacles you encounter in your marriage, with your kids, and the call on your life.

Remember the men in the story had to decide if they were going to fight.

They realized either way they may die that day and their only hope of survival would be to fight the enemy outside the city. Once they left the city if their fighting formations were broken the women, children, and elderly would perish. Although starving and fearful each man knew that they could not afford to fail. As they passed through the gates they became hungry fighters. With shouts,”none shall pass” they ran to meet the enemy and fought with a wild desperation. The enemy was unable to withstand the aggression, suffered great losses and surrendered.

Like the men in the story, when we defeat complacency inside and make a commitment to do what is needed we have the potential to yield phenomenal results. To do this we must take specific action.

As men we are wired to be problem solvers. Now we know the problem so the next step is finding the solution. Don’t worry I am sharing the solution in the next lesson, and it will change the way you think in the future.

1. Complacency is like software on a laptop, you may not see the application but it’s always running in the background.

2. Every area in your life not submitted to God is subject to complacency.

3. Don’t treat God’s word as a suggestion, and his calling on your life is not a recommendation, it's a road map.

1. Pray and ask God to show you area’s in your life where complacency/limiting beliefs have taken root and write them down.

2. PLEASE TAKE THE FIGHT PLAN SURVEY IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO - CLICK HERE