Why is it bad to be neither cold nor hot (Revelation 3:15)?

Moderation is said to be a virtue, and it usually is—except in our worship and service of God. Scripture tells us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37). God wants our full devotion, not half measures.

The church at Laodicea that Jesus addressed in Revelation 3:14–22 didn’t have this wholehearted devotion, though. Jesus said to them, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15–16). The Laodiceans’ lukewarmness showed an unacceptable level of spiritual indifference.

Jesus went on to address the Laodicean church’s pitiful condition: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17). Their perspective was such that they could not see their own need, and they thought they were perfectly fine.

The metaphor Jesus employs of hot and cold water was fitting for people living in Laodicea. The city’s drinking water came via a miles-long aqueduct; when it arrived at Laodicea, the water was disgustingly lukewarm. Other cities were located near hot springs that people could bathe in; still others had cold springs that provided refreshment. But Laodicea had lukewarm, tepid water. It was not hot—it could not cleanse or purify—and it was not cold—it could not refresh or enliven. The water of Laodicea had no value. It was good for nothing. It was, in fact, nauseating, and the Lord told the Laodiceans, “I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16).

The Lord’s wish that “you were either one or the other” (Revelation 3:15) expresses God’s desire that His people serve Him in some way, that they would make some kind of difference in the world. Lukewarm water is no better than salt that has lost its flavor (see Mark 9:50).

The problem of comfortable indifference was not new or unique to the church in Laodicea. God had warned the Israelites of this trap in Deuteronomy 8:10–14: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God.”

We tend to drift from God when life becomes too comfortable and easy. As C. S. Lewis wrote in The Problem of Pain, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world” (HarperCollins, 2001, p. 90). We feel our need for God and turn to Him more during our trials than during our ease.

This is one reason that wealth is such a deterrent to faith: the wealthy often rely on their money rather than on God. It’s why Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” (Matthew 19:24, NLT). It’s impossible to serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24).

Perhaps your service in Jesus’ name is like cold water—it refreshes and invigorates those around you. Perhaps the service you provide is more like hot water—it cleanses and refines an otherwise impure situation. Either way, God is using you. What we must all guard against is allowing our service to the Lord to grow tepid. The Lord save us from lukewarmness.