Settled on Your Lees
Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. ~Jeremiahs 48:11
Have you ever had freshly squeezed fruit juice that was unfiltered? If you have, you know that sediments from the fruit fibers will settle on the bottom of the juice bottle or container. These sediments are referred to as “lees.” In order to obtain the best taste of the fruit juice, you need to stir or shake up the “lees” so that they blend with the liquid. This morning, we want to consider what to do with the “lees in our life.”
There is the meaning.
Being settled on your lees has the idea of being complacent, indifferent, and lacking in motivation. Lees are insoluble matter that settle to the bottom of the container. The liquid lacks taste when the lees are settled. It is considered watered down. It is not at its full potency when the lees have settled. The same can be said for the Christian life when complacency and indifference sets in. There is little to no motivation, passion, or concern for anything. We are not able to do much, produce much, or contribute much. Being settled on our lees is indicative of inattention to critical matters of our life. Are you at a place where you are complacent or indifferent? If so, you might be someone who has settled on your lees.
There is the malignancy.
Complacency has always been the bane of important things in life. Complacency results in souls not being saved. It results in missionaries not being called to the mission field. It results in marriage losing its passion. It results in low voter turnout during elections. It results in activity being halted. It results in an attitude that says, “Let someone else do it” or “I don’t care.” Complacency is contagious. Complacency steals our joy from us. Complacency is indifference to progress or failure. Complacency will keep us from being the best that we can be for the Lord.
There is the methodology.
What do you do when things have “settled on its lees?” First, you can stir it up! Second, you can shake it up! Both methods are proven to get the sediments mixed back with the juice so that it recovers its full potency and tastefulness. Sometimes God uses an accident, an unsettling event, or a trial to shake us up. He uses something unexpected to shake up things in our life to realize that there has been a detachment of the essential things of our life. Sometimes, God stirs us up through a sermon or the testimony of another person. Whichever of the two that He uses will result in getting our life out of complacency mode.
Have you settled on your lees and have not been emptied from vessel to vessel? Have you lost your effectiveness and has the desire for your usage been affected by your complacency? It’s time to shake it up, or stir it up!
Have a stirred-up God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 43-45