I have a bad habit of procrastinating. I will get an idea (like starting a blog) and then put off doing it. Procrastination can also be abundant in my spiritual life. Sometimes I will know of a way to encourage someone or reach out to someone, or I will know someone who needs God's truth and love shared, or I will think of a ministry to start or be involved with, or I will learn something from God and then it stops there. Instead of acting on it, or sharing it, or writing it down, or asking God about it, or whatever I should be doing, I just think to myself, “That’s a good idea.” There have been many times when I put things off until tomorrow, or “later,” because I am content just to have the good idea.
Maybe I even tell God that I will do this idea, but
then I get scared, or lazy, or unsure, or overwhelmed. All of those are
hard obstacles, but they are not reasons to give up or put off doing something.
I think of two people in the Bible that faced the temptation of procrastination: Noah and Moses. Noah had to build a huge ark to hold his family, animals, and food, and Moses had to lead an entire nation to a new land. Their tasks were probably overwhelming to them. So how did they respond to what God had asked of them? Genesis 6:22 says, "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." Noah went to work on his task. Moses, however, hesitated before he did what God wanted. He tried to talk his way out his task. I am sure he thought it was a good idea. He wanted the Israelites free, but he was reluctant to go and do it. I can act the same way sometimes. Instead of getting to work, I hesitate.
I think of two people in the Bible that faced the temptation of procrastination: Noah and Moses. Noah had to build a huge ark to hold his family, animals, and food, and Moses had to lead an entire nation to a new land. Their tasks were probably overwhelming to them. So how did they respond to what God had asked of them? Genesis 6:22 says, "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." Noah went to work on his task. Moses, however, hesitated before he did what God wanted. He tried to talk his way out his task. I am sure he thought it was a good idea. He wanted the Israelites free, but he was reluctant to go and do it. I can act the same way sometimes. Instead of getting to work, I hesitate.
God has been teaching me, repeatedly, that procrastination is more than a bad
habit; it is disobedience. And disobedience can have unpleasant consequences.
The
servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what
the master wants will be beaten with many blows. - Luke 12:47
In Luke 12:35-48,
specifically verse 47, Jesus says the servants who have been put in charge and
given assignments should fulfill those duties or else be punished. Similarly,
in Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus says God is not impressed by our words or promises
but by our actions. Ecclesiastes 5:2,4-7 also emphasizes that God doesn’t want
empty words; He wants faithfulness.
When you make a vow to God, do
not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It
is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. – Ecclesiastes 5:4,
5
Both the verses in
Matthew and in Luke are in the context of salvation (knowing how to enter the
kingdom of God but waiting or refusing to believe), but I think the concept of obedience
and of timing in these verses can be applied to any task God sets before me. If I am not going
to do it, I should not say that I am, and if I am going to do it I should not
put if off. There is no guarantee of tomorrow. This does not mean I should rush
or not wait for God’s timing, but too often tasks are not finished or even
started due to procrastination and not due to God’s leading.
Sometimes I wonder
at the opportunities I have missed: if I had finished yesterday’s task, then there
could be a new task for today, or maybe today’s task is only for today and if I
do not finish today’s task now, I will not be able to finish it ever. I could
go crazy with such thoughts; instead, in the words of Paul, I “forget what is
behind and strain for what is ahead, pressing on towards the goal to win the
prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians
3:13, 14).
I need to focus on what
God has asked me to do today. When I finish what He has given me now, He might
give me more to do. I must be faithful in what I already have. There are dire
consequences if I am disobedient. He is a good master and will not ask me to do
anything He has not already equipped me for doing. So what happens when
I get scared or lazy or unsure, or overwhelmed? God is faithful, and He will
help me when I ask. I need to trust Him. Sometimes there are tasks I cannot do on my own. That is
when I go to my Christian brothers and sisters. God has created us to work
together, to help each other and to accomplish great and wonderful tasks for
God together. Noah and Moses each had a huge task, but neither had to do it alone. Moses had help from his siblings and many others, Noah could have had
help from his family, and both Noah and Moses had
the help of God Almighty, the same God that is here to help all His children
complete the tasks He asks of them.
One final thought. When faced with procrastination consider this: What if Noah never built the ark!?
One final thought. When faced with procrastination consider this: What if Noah never built the ark!?
