Listening to the radio while driving one day, someone mentioned the alarm clock’s snooze button. I did not hear the rest of what was being said for my mind turned to pondering about what the snooze button could reveal about us. Consider this: when we set our alarm clock, the primary idea is that the time that we set is the time we determined that we should get up. The older alarm clocks had no snooze button. Those loud clanging bells demanded that we get up. Then, somebody had the convenient idea of the snooze button.
Let’s face it. The snooze button caters to our laziness or moodiness. It gives provision for our laziness and makes allowances for our moods. Instead of getting up when we are supposed to, we extend our time in bed for “a few more minutes.” But if we’re not careful, those “few minutes” could easily go longer than we intend. And we end up rushing to get to work or to school or to whatever engagement we were supposed to be a part of. We may end up being late, or just skipping the appointment.
Of course, we could easily brush aside the matter if our attitude is such that we do not really care about the engagement, or that we consider the business of no real importance. For example, if we determine that we are not losing any monetary income or some other preferred benefit, then being late or missing the appointment altogether is “no big deal.”
The apostle Paul reminds us that it should not be this way regarding our service to the Lord. “Never be lacking in zeal, but fired up by the Spirit, serve the Lord” (Romans 12:11). Peter instructs us: “get your minds ready for action” (1 Peter 1.13 NET). The Lord expects those who call themselves his followers always to be ready to jump up when the Master calls and, without delay, engage in any work he assigns them (see 2 Timothy 2.21; 4.2). The Master’s will is always the priority. My laziness or my moods must not get in the way of my service. For the faithful servant there is no snooze button.
Paul’s instruction is in line with Jesus’ warning to the church in Laodicea (as well as to the church in every place and every era): “I know about your activities: how you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other, but since you are neither hot nor cold, but only lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3.15–16 NJB). Service that is lacking in zeal does not impress the Lord and is not pleasing him. We would do well to get rid of our spiritual snooze button!
—Keith Y. Jainga