“BOTTOMLESS PITS”.

1

THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

All of us have relationships that we tolerate. There are individuals who

unwittingly place heavy burdens on our resources. They suck up our energy and

time voraciously. We permit them in our circle under a mistaken concept of love

and compassion. They drain the anointing of pastors and leaders. There is no

return for investment of time and energy.

Jesus expects returns for investment – (Matt.25:20-28)- the unproductive servant

was liquidated. (also refer to Luke 13:6-9)

Paul wanted to see his investment bear fruit for the kingdom of God.

Phil 4:17

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.(NKJ)

I call these long-standing unproductive “relationships” “bottomless pits”.

Irrespective of how much you put in, no value will be received for the kingdom

of God.

Here are some of them:

1. THE DOUBLE-MINDED

James 1:6-8

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave

of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.(NKJ)

When a double-minded person opens his eyes in the morning he is in doubt

whether he should get up immediately or wait a further 15 minutes. He is in

doubt whether he should go to work or the golf-course. He doubts whether he

should pay his bills, go to church etc. He is unstable in ALL his ways. He is the

most inconsistent person in your circle. He might change church every few

months, but still visit you, and claim that you are his pastor. Such an individual

is inconsistent in time and attendance. You may continue to service him or her

under the false belief that the person will change – you may be duped for 15

years. By that time it is too late – he may marry one of your daughters. This

person is mentally ill – he has BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER –

refer to DSM 1V psychiatric manual. He needs spiritual counseling, deliverance

and psychiatric help. This person will continually drain virtue from you.

2. THE RETARDED

1 Cor 2:14

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are

foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually

discerned.(NKJ)

This person is unregenerated. He does not have the Spirit of God. He probably

came into the Christian community after evolution was intellectually refuted. He

is not born again. He has no spiritual discerning. This is the person who will

meet you, after a glorious interaction with Christ in a corporate gathering, and

demand an explanation for what transpired. He has great difficulty with

“proceeding truth” because of an absence of spiritual perception. Because of the

person’s constant demand for explanation the unwitting pastor would tailor his

messages to please him.

3. THE ATTENTION-SEEKER

Esth 3:2

2

And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage

to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would

not bow or pay homage.(NKJ)

Esth 3:5

When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was

filled with wrath.(NKJ)

Esth 5:9

So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw

Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was

filled with indignation against Mordecai.(NKJ)

Haman wanted Mordecai’s attention and acknowledgement. Mordecai’s refusal

ignited an hatred that could have led to genocide.

There are folk that constantly demand attention and acknowledgement in

corporate gatherings. This is also common in pastors’ gatherings. Some will

never show up unless they are given a chance to speak. Others demand a stage

seat or front seat.

Matt 23:6-7

6 "They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,

7 "greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi,

Rabbi.(NKJ)

An inferiority complex coupled with insecurity of the call of God is the

underlying cause. This monster can never be satisfied.

4. THE IDLE-BUSY BODY

1 Tim 5:13

And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not

only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.(NKJ)

This is the purposeless visitor. Beware! They have come to devour your time

with idle, insignificant chat about other folk and the latest happenings on

television. They are never involved in advancing the purposes of the kingdom of

God.

5. THE NEGATIVE COMMENTATOR

Num 13:32-14:1

32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had

spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that

devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great

stature.

33 "There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants);

and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."

CHAPTER 14

1 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept

that night.(NKJ)

This is one instance of negativity in the scriptures. There are folk that have

nothing positive to say. They constantly complain and murmur. They are often

sad, angry and bitter folk who cannot rejoice with other people’s success. God

did not tolerate them.

1 Cor 10:5

But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in

the wilderness.(NKJ)

1 Cor 10:10

3

nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the

destroyer.(NKJ)

6. THE SUSPICIOUS “FRIEND”

2 Sam 10:2-4

2 Then David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his

father showed kindness to me." So David sent by the hand of his servants to

comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the

people of Ammon.

3 And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you

think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you?

Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to

overthrow it?"

4 Therefore Hanun took David's servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut

off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away.(NKJ)

Hanun was suspicious of David’s kindness.

There are some folk that are very hard to please. They demand proof every time.

They ascribe evil motives to your good actions without proof.

THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE VERY DRAINING RELATIONSHIPS. THEY

SUCK VIRTUE OUT OF YOU. YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF EXHAUSTED

IN THE EVENINGS. YOUR DOCTOR MAY WRONGLY DIAGNOSE THAT

YOU HAVE YUPPIE FLU.

Prov 13:20

He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be

destroyed.(NKJ)

WALK WITH WISE FOLK, NOT WITH “BOTTOMLESS PITS”.

JUDE WARNS:

Jude 1:12-13

12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear,

serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds;

late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;

13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for

whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.(NKJ)

ACCURATE BUILDING CONCEPTS(ABC) –
© DR S.Y. GOVENDER