June 11, 2021
Don't Be in Such a Hurry!
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow’ (Proverbs 3:27-28, NIV).
Friend to Friend
I once heard a preacher tell the story of three demons who were arguing over the best way to destroy the Christian movement.
The first demon had it all figured out. “Let’s tell all the Christians that there is no heaven. If we take away the reward incentive, their movement will collapse,” he said.
The second demon responded with, “No, I have a better idea. Let’s tell all the Christians that there really is no hell. If we take away their fear of punishment, their movement will collapse.”
The third demon offered, “Both of those are great ideas, but there is a better way. Let's tell all the Christians that there is no hurry.” The other demons applauded in delight! “That’s it!” they said. “Our best weapon of all is procrastination.”
According to Webster’s dictionary, to procrastinate is to “put off intentionally and habitually.” Procrastination is not an accident. It is an intentional action that leads to a habit – a bad habit.
Procrastination is understandable and normal – humanly speaking – but procrastination does not please God. We rarely view procrastination as sin, but it is.
Sin is not merely doing wrong. It is failing to do what you know you should do – when you know you should do it. Knowledge equals responsibility. Procrastination and disobedience are just opposite sides of the same coin.
Sin brings pleasure for only a moment. Procrastination is different in that it helps us avoid doing the things we don’t want to do – the tasks that require personal discipline and a commitment to godly goals. Wasting time often creates a restless feeling that produces a sense of failure. When the deadline we were supposed to meet has come and gone, or the dreaded task we keep putting off spirals out of control – guilt sets in. We try to rationalize it away when the simple truth is that we have sinned.
The key to dealing with procrastination begins with a commitment to obey God and exercise His wisdom.
We can choose to be led by wisdom rather than our momentary feelings.
We can choose to make right choices.
We can learn to be good stewards of the time God has given us.
Do you realize that it takes as much energy to avoid a task as it does to just do it? Procrastination drains energy while action produces energy. God empowers us to do what He calls us to do.
Matthew 6:33 (NCV) “The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.”
Truth is for today. When we hear God speak, we need to obey His voice now! God is not impressed with good intentions. Obedience today is the greatest preparation for every tomorrow. So do what you know to do today – like the Proverbs 31 woman did.
Proverbs 31:25 tells us she could “laugh at the days to come.” In other words, this woman fully lived in the present but carefully planned and prepared for the future.
Proverbs 31:19 indicates that she made thread with her hands and weaved her own cloth: “In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.” Notice she only made thread and cloth – not the finished product of clothes. That was a task for the future. She was simply getting ready today to meet the needs of tomorrow. The result was a life filled with hope because she lived out God’s purpose.
Think of procrastinating as putting off your blessings and resist it with the Holy Spirit power that abides in you. Then go ahead and take that first step toward the victory and success that God has in store for you!
Let’s Pray
Father, please forgive me for putting off what I know You want me to do. Help me learn to be more disciplined with my time. Teach me how to find and live by Your priorities instead of my own.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Ask yourself the following questions.
- What one change can I make this week to overcome procrastination?
- Ask a friend or family member to hold you accountable to make that change.
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© 2021 by Mary Southerland. All rights reserved.
Originally published Friday, 11 June 2021.
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