1) One of these is what some call sleeping in — Sleeping so late on Sunday morning that members miss the worship altogether! This writer has more respect for the one who “fades out” during the worship service than the one who puts forth no effort to be there. Such absence is a slap in the face of Jesus!
2) Another form of sleeping is being asleep while on duty — The one who suffers from this problem feels that every directive the Lord gave regarding duty is aimed at someone else! “He’s not talking to me” is the philosophy. This Christian fails to realize that every saint is “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV).
3) Then there is sleeping on the job — Have we ever been asked to undertake an assignment by the elders, only to drag our feet or abandon the job altogether? Churches grow weak and die when members have so little interest in the Lord’s work that they simply neglect the things Christ has told us to do.
4) Disciples may be asleep to danger — Christ urges us to be vigilant or watchful at all times. Elders are commissioned to watch for the souls of the members under their charge (Acts 20:28-31; Hebrews 13:17). Preachers are reminded of the necessity of watching their doctrine or teaching, as well as their lives (1 Timothy 4:1-16). We are to be alert to these same dangers as they concern all Christians and those we meet. Closing our eyes, going to sleep, will not cause the danger to disappear.
Beloved, if are we a “sleeper” like one of the sleepers mentioned above, we need to realize there’s is a sleep that is good for us, and other kinds of sleep that are not. We need to know the difference!
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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