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Time Is Now!
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Procrastination
is “the act, tendency, or habit of putting off taking action
until a future time.” Be assured, I speak from experience on
this subject, and want you to know that what you read here is
aimed first at myself. I hope you will profit from some of
what I gained from contemplating and studying God’s word
regarding it.
It is a rare individual indeed who has not allowed himself or
herself this indulgence, if such a person exists at all. I
think most all of us have the inclination to postpone any
activity or responsibility that is difficult, unpleasant, time
consuming or boring, but have you considered the fact that
this willful delay can actually constitute, or lead to sin,
depending, of course, on the particular thing being delayed.
James, in 4:17 said: ”Therefore to him that knoweth to
do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Granted,
he didn’t say “doeth it not immediately,” but the
context definitely implies that the doing of those good things
that we know to do should not be postponed. Just three verses
prior in vs. 14 he says: “Whereas ye know not what shall
be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is but a vapor,
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
And Paul emphasizes how we should spend that “little time”
in Eph. 5:15,16: “Therefore, be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time,
because the days are evil.”
Procrastination is such a subtle tool of the devil, it
can easily go unrecognized. He can make us feel so good and
spiritual about our intentions, plans
and motives that we go on with our daily
living of life performing the mundane, though “important”
activities and one day realize our good intentions regarding
spiritual endeavors were just and only that – “good
intentions.”
James, in 1:22, said, “But be ye doers of the word, and
not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Note the
self-deceit involved here. We can hear the word, meditate on
it, think about how it applies to us, make strong plans to
carry through, tell others what we plan to do, and then decide
to start tomorrow instead of today. First thing you know, we
become the man who looked in the mirror, saw what needed to be
done to improve his situation, but then went on and forgot “what
manner of man he was.”
Can you identify with some of the things I personally
have put off doing in times past and some more recently:
● Writing this very article
● Visiting those who are shut-in and lonely
● Speaking to work-mates, (school-mates) about their
eternal destiny
● Investing more time in neighbors and acquaintances,
hopefully leading toward a chance to study the Bible with them
Other things that are often postponed which can place our
eternal destiny at great risk:
● Obeying the Gospel once we understand it
● Confessing, repenting of sins committed after becoming
Christians
● Determining to put the Lord first in our daily living
and in life choices – (our attendance at Bible classes &
worship services; our recreation choices; the friends we
choose; the lifelong mate we choose; the career choices we
make)
To emphasize the great danger of putting off the most
important things of life, please consider one of the many
warnings Jesus gave His disciples in the 24th and 25th
chapters of Matthew in regard to being “ready”: When the
bridegroom came, the five foolish virgins, who had not
prepared, said “Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered
and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch
therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein
the son of man cometh” (Mt. 25:11-13).
We, who are still blessed to breathe God’s life-giving air,
have always had tomorrows and we pretty much assume we will
have the next one. However, as God said in Jesus’ parable of
the rich man who had spent his life with his priorities upside
down, and had made big plans to continue his “successful”
ways for “many years”: “Thou fool, this night shall
thy soul be required of thee….” …“So is he that layeth
up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God”
(Luke 12:16-21). Let’s pray as did Moses in Ps. 90:12: “So
teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to
wisdom.” And as David in Ps. 39:4: “Lord make me
to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that
I may know how frail I am.”
Finally, one way to help to avoid this insidious theft of
our short time on earth is to prioritize our activities
generally, and then do so specifically on a daily basis. Do
you put God first in your overall life plan? “But seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33). Do
you begin your day with prayer and meditation on God’s word?
Then follow that with the determination to be about doing the
things you know to do. Remember our Lecture theme this year:
“What Must I Do?” Not, “What Must I Intend
to Do?”
And remember, “The Time is Now” – not
tomorrow.
Bruce Turner
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Copyright (C)
2008
Southside Church of Christ
All rights reserved.
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