Monday, January 13, 2014

Pastor's Ponderings January 13, 2014

Procrastination
My dear mother used to say, “Procrastination is a thief of time.”  We have all heard similar sayings such as, “Don’t put off tomorrow the things that you can do today” or “Tomorrow never comes.”  I believe one of the tactics used by the devil is to encourage us to waste our time on trivial things and put off important things until later.  Short term gratification is often prioritized over future benefits and procrastination sets in. 
Naturally, we have all been in this position.  We say, “I can look for that job tomorrow,” or “I can look into starting a business when I am older,” or “I’ll start eating right and exercising next week,” or “Maybe I will say hello to that man or woman when I get a better opportunity.” Unfortunately, that opportunity may never come.
In Luke 12, the parable of the rich fool teaches a primary lesson about covetousness and a secondary lesson about procrastination. The rich man had great resources and instead of sharing them with others, he decided to build bigger barns for himself.  He said to himself, “…Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” (Luke 12:19).  He put off having a personal relationship with God who then said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" (Luke 12:20)
Have you put off the critical things in life and spent your time on the unimportant or have you used all of your time to the best of your ability?  God wants you to use every moment to best glorify Him by fulfilling our purpose. Since we will never know when we will run out of a future to procrastinate in, let’s ask God to give us motivation, direction, and courage to live out our purpose on earth.
Please comment below how you did not procrastinate in spite of the temptation but you pressed on and accomplished your tasks in a timely manner.  Your comments may bless others to follow your example.
Luke 12:15-20 (NIV)
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

2 comments:

Denise said...

Social media is a time waster! I've decided at least one day a week to have a tech free day such as "Tech free Tuesdays or Social-Media Free Saturdays!" That will free up time to focus on my priorities =)

Anonymous said...

Jesus said in John 9:4 "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work". Let us all be reminded that we are just passing through this world and redeem the time.
Deacon Herbert Willis..