In these days, one of the saddest things to observe is that we've come to the place where we've learned to live with normalcy.

No longer does anyone try to do what needs to be done, or what is expected of them; but, rather, the average Christian seeks to cut corners,  take the short-cut, and come through the back door in an attempt to just get by.

I believe that there's one word that would sum up the attitude, and actions of most Christians, and that word is the word "mediocre!"

Now, too many Christians, have the perception that 100% isn't required all of the time for all things.

As a matter of fact, if you would ask most people the question,
"Do you think that 99.9% would be considered enough?"

Most would answer, "Yes!"

However, if 99.9% is good enough, then this year alone:

--2 million documents will be lost by the IRS
--12 babies will be given to the wrong parents each day
--291 pacemaker operations would be performed incorrectly,
--20,000 incorrect drug prescriptions will be written; and,
--114,500 mismatched pairs of shoes will be shipped.

Let's flip the coin for just a second.

Think what would be our plight if God only gave 99.9% to us for salvation.
Or, if Jesus only gave a 99.9% sacrifice for our sins.
Or, if the Holy Spirit indwelled us, and accompanied us just 99.9%  of the time.

Yet, though we expect God to give us 100% all of the time, we, for  some reason, have convinced ourselves that 99.9% is good enough  for us.

I submit to you that anything less than 100% of our best, all the time for all things, is simply MEDIOCRE!

I think of the University of Arizona campus, particularly their athletic center.
If you walk into that monstrous facility, you would see that on both sides of the standing room of the gym, in tremendous letters, is the words: "Bear Down!" Those were the last words of Captain Button of the 1926 Arizona football team just before he died in an auto accident before Arizona's final game, "Bear Down!" But, I say unto you, that's not bad advice for the
Lord's work, just "Bear Down!"

Now, if I were to sit a glass on the pulpit, and filled it halfway with water, no doubt, there would be many various perceptions of it.

Some would say, and have said, "It's half-full." Others would conclude, "It's half-empty!"

 As a matter of fact, that's the debate that has gone for years. But, I  say unto you, as Solomon seems to say to us in the text, "Whether It's Half Full Or Half Empty, It's Still Just Half!"

You'll notice in this one verse of scripture, the wise one seems to point out three truths about mediocrity.
 

In doing that, we see:

In just the few words of verse 10, Solomon conveys to us the description of mediocrity.
Notice, again, he describes it by referring to it as "slothfulness." By seeing what it meant by this word, we see that in order for you to be mediocre:

A. IT INVOLVES A FORFEIT OF OUR DUTY

1."By much slothfulness the building decayeth…"
he's informing us that when you are mediocre it's because there's been a forfeit of your duty.

2. notice again the word "slothfulness."

 The word is quite an interesting word, as well as a very descriptive word.

The word speaks of "being slack."
The word describes someone being in a condition that causes little or no effort.

3. It's interesting to note that this word is used only 1 other time in scripture, and that being Proverbs 19:15, when again Solomon said that "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger."

4. what's being described here is a condition of slackness, idleness, or laziness which has resulted from a forfeit of someone's duty.

5. You see, God has given each and one of us a job to do.
    Your job may not be the same as my job,
     and my job may not be the same as your job.

BUT, we each have a job, and you are the only one who can do that job that God has given you.

6. When we become slothful in our service to the Lord,  and we don't reach the goal that God has mapped out for us, it's  because we've forfeited our duty to fulfill that goal.

 We've forfeited our duty to reach that goal.

 We've forfeited our duty to attain that goal;

  and, as a result we've settled with being mediocre.
 

I think of a story of an old couple who lived in the mountains who were sitting in front of the fireplace one evening passing the time. After a long silence, the wife said, "Jed, I think it's raining. Get up, go outside and see." The old mountaineer continued to gaze into the fire for a second, and then said, "Aw, Ma, let's just call the dog in, and see if he's wet!"

7. In much the same way many Christians have become lazy in their labor, and slothful in their service all the while forfeiting their duty to the Lord.

8. However, I remind you of Paul's words to young Timothy, in I Timothy 1: 6, 9, when he said, "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee…Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace…"

9. You and I've been given a divine assignment that must be carried out. It's up to us to carry it out, and not be mediocre.

I'm reminded of an incident that happened during the ministry of Sam Jones. He was a preacher who held revival services, which he called "quittin' meetings." His preaching was directed primarily to Christians, and he urged them to give up the sinful practices in their lives. His messages were very effective, and many people had committed to quit swearing, drinking, gossiping, or anything else that was displeasing to the Lord.

On one occasion, Jones asked a woman, "Just what is it that you're quittin'?" She replied, "I'm guilty of not doing something, and I'm going to quit doing that too!"

10. Now, I'm going to be quite honest with you today.

God has blessed our church with good workers, and I bless Him for  that. So, this isn't directed to everyone, but to someone. The fact of  the matter is that if some of you quit doing what you were doing,  there's still not much that would be left undone.

11. Allow me to be very elementary and explain that. Simply put, because you're not doing anything, if you quit doing that, everything would still get done. Why? For the simple reason that you've gotten so use to being mediocre, that that has become your comfort zone.

B. IT INVOLVES A FAILURE IN OUR DUTY

1."By much slothfulness the building decayeth.."
He's informing us that when we become slothful, and mediocre it not  only involves a forfeit of our duty, but a failure in our duty.

2. Again, the writer is describing someone who has become lazy, slack, and mediocre.

he's describing a person who hasn't only forfeited their duty, but someone who has failed in their duty.

3. You see, again, God has mapped out a purpose, a program, and a plan for our lives.

 Also, it's something that only we can achieve,  and only we can attain.

However, when we sit back, and become slothful, we have failed in our duty
to our self, and to our Savior.

You show me someone who is mediocre in their Christian life, and I'll show you someone who has tragically failed in their   duty.

I think of a housewife who received a knock at her door one day. As she opened the door she saw that a salesman was out making house calls. He began to introduce to her the latest in modern technology in various products.
Finally, he told her that he had a labor saving device that would cut her housework in half. The lady said, "Are you kidding me? You mean to tell me that this thing will cut my housework in half?" He said, "Yes ma'am, it will cut in half, guaranteed!" She then replied, "In that case, I'll take two of them!"

4. In much the same way, the greatest giant that most Christians face is the giant of mediocrity.
The reason they face that giant is because of another giant known as  "laziness."

5. the reason so many muddle along in mediocrity is that they're too lazy to do anything about it.
It's not that there's a lack of opportunity, or a lack of ability;   but, there's a lack of desire to do something about it.

6. I don't know about you, but one of the things that I can't stand is laziness.

 I was raised that if it was worth having, then it was worth working  for.
But, did you know, also, that God cannot stand laziness.

As a matter of fact, we're told in II Thessalonians 3:10, "..that if  any would not work, neither should he eat."

7. Oh, may we as Christians not bear the shameful title of laziness,  but may we be busy, sharing, striving, and serving, everyday, in the  service of the Lord.

I think of the little animal known as the ‘bumblebee.' According to the theory of aerodynamics, the bumblebee should be unable to fly. Because of the size, weight, and shape of his body, in relationship to his total wing spread, flying is scientifically impossible. However, the bumblebee, being ignorant of scientific theory, goes ahead and flies anyway, and makes honey every day of his life.

8. I don't know about you, but I want to be a ‘bumblebee Christian.'
 One who is laboring, not lazy.

 One who is serving, not slothful.

 One who is moving, not mediocre.

For, when we allow ourselves to become mediocre, It Involves A Forfeit Of Our Duty,  and It Involves A Failure In Our Duty.

That's The Description Of Mediocrity!

As we move into the middle part of verse 10, we not only see the description of mediocrity, but the danger of mediocrity.

The writer is painting us a vivid word picture of his point,

A. HE SPEAKS OF A LABOR THAT IS WASTED

1. Notice, again, the phrase, "By much slothfulness the building decayeth.."

The writer is speaking here of a labor that is wasted.

2. In these words, the writer is describing a house that is being built.
    It's a work that required much sacrifice, and much labor.

3. Though it takes much labor, he's describing workers who have quit working on that home.

 For whatever reason they've ceased to finish the work that they've  started; and, as a result, because of their mediocrity and
   slothfulness, the building begins to rot and decay.

4. Yet, in the same way, we have a spiritual home that is to be built everyday of our lives.

Granted, the foundation has already been laid for us,  but we're to build upon that foundation everyday.

5. However, it's when we become mediocre that we begin to see things in our life rot, and decay.

For example, one starts out and has a fire, and a fervor for the things  of God. They read and study the Word, and they spend time with  God in prayer everyday.

6. But, somewhere down the road, they grow slothful, and as a result they allow themselves to settle with mediocrity.
And, before long, they begin to see things in there, that used to be in tip top spiritual shape, begin to rot and decay.
As a result, all of the time, energy, and effort, that they've put into their spiritual home, has now become nothing more than a labor that has been wasted.

I think of the intensive work that took place on our symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty. Back in 1986, she was examined with a fine tooth comb. The craftsmen and artists who did the repairs had ample opportunity to study the craftsmanship of this marvelous piece of work done by French sculptor more than a hundred years ago.

Nothing had been overlooked. For example, the beautiful work that was done high atop her spiked crown and head. The superb attention to detail was carried out so thoroughly, you would've thought that this section
would have been viewed by everyone. But the fact is, no one would see her from above. Once she was raised to her full height of 151 feet, only seagulls would ever notice her beauty. But, little did those French workmen ever imagine a day when helicopters would hover over her, giving time for the human eye to observe her exquisite beauty. But, nothing less than excellence characterized the design of her head, whether or not anyone would ever stop to notice or admire her.

7. When I read that, I thought, may you and I, as saints of God, take the time to give attention to detail.
Even those things that may not seem important, may we not be  mediocre, but may we perform, and perfect every area of our life. The writer is speaking of the danger of becoming mediocre, and in doing that, He Speaks Of A Labor That Is Wasted!

B. HE SPEAKS OF A LOSS THAT IS WITNESSED

1. Not only in these words does he speak of a labor that is wasted, but of a loss that is witnessed. Again the words of our text, "By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through the idleness of the hands the house droppeth through."

2. Again, the picture here is of a house under construction. The foundation has been laid, the walls have been erected, but suddenly the work has ceased.

 As a result, because of it, the labor is not only wasted, but a loss is
 witnessed.

3. notice again he says that because of this slothfulness, and mediocrity, this house "decayeth…and droppeth through."

The verse literally reads,
"Through slothfulness the building decays and the roof sinks in, and through
idleness of the hands the house leaks."

4. he's describing a loss of the work that has already been done.

A loss of the ground that has already been gained.
Because of this mediocrity, the house has been neglected, and it's leaking, and falling apart.

5. I remind you of the words of John, in II John 8, when he said,
"Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."

6. the tragedy of mediocrity is that we begin to lose the ground that's been gained.

 We have, to this point in our life, made great strides for God,  but we become negligent, slothful, and mediocre; and, as a result, we  suffer the loss of these things.

7. Contrary to popular opinion, there are only 2 types of Christians.

                 There are those who are moving forward,

                 and those who are moving backward.

                There's no middle ground.

8. someone who is mediocre,  though they think they're standing still, the truth is that they're regressing rather than progressing.

They're moving backward, rather than moving forward.
As a result, because of their mediocrity, they will witness the loss of  ground in their Christian life.

9. I don't know about you, but I don't want to move backward,

        but I want to move forward with God,  to God,  and for God.

I don't want to settle with ‘status quo,' or mediocre Christianity;

 but, I want to grow,

               I want to go,

                        and I want to gain all that God has for me.

As we observe why mediocrity is a disgrace in our Christian life,
we see that it is because:

A. IT DISGRACES THE WORK OF GOD IN OUR LIFE

1. Again, notice, verse 10, "By much slothfulness the building decayeth, and through the idleness of hands the house droppeth through."

In essence, he's informing us that when we settle with being mediocre, it disgraces the work of God in our life.

2. Keep in mind, again, that he's depicting a house under construction, and being built.
    in order for this house to be built,  it requires a person's life,  A person's love, and a person's labor.
Anything less than that will not do.

3. However, the workers have become slothful, lazy, and mediocre.

As a result, the house, which was intended to be a marvelous piece  of work, has now become nothing more than a shell of a finished  product.

Simply put, it's a disgrace to the builder, and to the owner.

4. Yet, in much the same way, God has entrusted to each one of us a spiritual house.

This house has come with a blueprint,
and instructions from the King of Glory.

He's given us every tool that we'll ever need to build up this house.
We have His Word, His Spirit,  His Grace, His Mercy, His Love, His Guidance, and His Correction.

5. However, when we allow ourselves to fall into the trap of mediocrity, we have hindered this work, and it disgraces His work in our lives.

6. That's exactly the complaint that our Lord had against the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3.
You'll remember that, he said, in verse 15 and 16,
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."

7. Someone has well said, "It is a wretched taste to be gratified with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us."

8. Another has said, "Between the great things we cannot do, and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing."

9. You see, it's God Himself "which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

 when we settle with being mediocre in the Christian life,  we've disgraced His design, His desire, His development; and It
 Disgraces The Work Of God In Our Life!

B. IT DISGRACES THE WILL OF GOD FOR OUR LIFE

1. Not only does mediocrity disgrace His work in our life, but it disgraces His will for our life.

2. Think with me for a moment.

Here's a Christian who was once on fire for God.
 Yet, somewhere along the way, they began to lose heart, and now  they are straddling the fence of mediocrity.

They're not moving forward or moving backward, they're merely standing still.

3. when that happens it not only disgraces His work, but it disgraces His will.

 For, you see, His will for us is that we grow everyday in the grace  and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. His will is that we serve Him, share Him, love Him, and live for Him.

 But, when we've become mediocre, we simply disgrace His will.

5. Let's think in the area of church attendance and faithfulness.

 We all know that it's God's will for us to be faithful.

there's been designated for us 3 times a week for us to be faithful to the house of God.

6. Yet, for some, this is the only service that you'll attend this week, and in essence you're giving God 33% of your week.

Others of you, will be back tonight, and you'll only give Him 67% of your week.

I say to you, that's not mediocre, THAT'S A DISGRACE!

7. You see, this is a failing to do what we know God wants us to do.

 It's not a matter of ignorance, it's a matter of negligence, and  mediocrity.

Of all that God has done for us, yet we are content with staying where we're at, serving where we want, and settling with being mediocre.

 I say to you, that It Disgraces The Work Of God In Our Life, and It Disgraces The Will Of God For Our Life!

That's the undeniable, unrefuteable, unmistakable Disgrace Of Mediocrity!

Many years ago, Dr. H.A. Ironside, once checked into a hotel where a church had made reservations for him. Without a word, one of the bell-boys let him to the room that was reserved for him. The bell-boy took the key,
unlocked the door, and Dr. Ironside was amazed. One look, and he realized that he was in the penthouse. It was like nothing that he had ever seen. He soon discovered that it had multiple rooms, several bathrooms, luxurious towels, and marble finishings. Immediately, he went to the phone and called the front desk, and said, "I think that there's been a mistake, I believe that I'm in the wrong room." The receptionist asked, "Are you H.A. Ironside?" He answered, "Yes!' She then asked, "Are you preaching at such and such church tomorrow?" Again, his answer was, "Yes!" She then replied, "Well, I have a note here from the church, and it says, ‘If Dr. Ironside calls and has any concerns or questions, just say, ‘We want you to learn how to abound, Dr. Ironside!'"

That's exactly what God desires for each and every one of us. He desires for us to labor faithfully, and never become mediocre.

You see, God is able to do a whole lot more with us when we're not a mediocre Christian.

He's then allowed to work on us, and we're allowed to work on ourselves.

    Mediocrity is "reaping four rows when ten are ready for reaping.

    Mediocrity is a man with locomotive power doing pushcart work.

    Mediocrity is a man with eagle wings fluttering around like a sparrow.

    Mediocrity is somebody, or anybody with steam-shovel talents doing teaspoon work."

Oh, may we not settle for anything less than what God has provided for us.

May we not be someway,  midway,  or halfway,

because I say to you,