Welcome back, buckle up – we’re movin’ forward in faith. Destination? Life! Road map? God’s Word, the Bible. Today’s letter is T for TIME.
There is a certain person who has an unusual way of telling and using time.Who is it? The procrastinator – one who is perfecting the habit of putting it off. There’s a little procrastinator in all of us, don’t you agree? But some are true believers and totally committed to – tomorrow. But God has help and hope for the procrastinator – we’ll get to that.
Why do procrastinators procrastinate? What would you say? Here are some possibilities:
1. Inadequacy – delaying is a practical way to hide our shortcomings, especially since self-consciousness is a critical part of a procrastinator’s make up.
2. Fear – delaying is a temporary fix for the fears we feel about the thing, person, situation we don’t want to deal with until tomorrow to the tenth power.
3. Willfulness – delaying says, “I’m in charge of my life – not you, not anybody. I’ll do do it, be it, say it when I want to.” But they don’t, they won’t, maybe they can’t.
4. Perfectionism – delaying delays the inevitable – exposing our inability to be the perfect person, do the perfect job, say the perfect person. Perfectionism paralyzes – the paralysis of analysis fueled by illusion.
5. Laziness – delaying supposedly saves energy, saves time and prevents stress. This is how the lazy one masquerades as the smart one. Real smart, yet not smart enough to start today.
What reactions do procrastinators provoke in the ones who live with, work with, like and love them?
1. Anger – underneath the “understanding” seethes some real anger – unresolved. No wonder the relationship eventually falters or fails.
2. Resentment – the procrastinator places an unfair burden on the one(s) invlolved with him. The “tomorrow” attitude stockpiles resentment. And why shouldn’t it? Others are delayed too, caught in the delayer’s draft.
3. Pity – our respect weakens, then dies for the procrastinator. Good will fades. Pity is not a good foundation for a relationship. The sink hole will finally sink all involved.
4. Guilt – believe it or not the procrastinator’s friends, family sometimes feel “unearned guilt”. It’s guilt by association. It starts slow and builds up steam.
5. Lying!? Yes, sometimes we lie to cover the one we like or love – and become a partner in procrastination.We rationalize and refuse to face the crisis – at least not today. We’re becoming one too!
What is God’s answer in the Bible? God speaks to the procrastinator in particular in three passages. I’ll simply state each one and the simple truths that set us free.
First, trust God all the time, every time! “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God. My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies’…let your face shine on your servant.” (Psalm 31:14,15)
Second, allow God to wise us up, beginning with our own heart. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
Third, stop being careless with your life’s time, callous with others and contentious with God. “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17a)
Tomorrow will not make your life count today, but today will make your life count tomorrow.
God helps us in the nick of time. (Hebrews 4:16)
Sincerely, Chuck
P.S.: What are your thoughts? Let me hear from you – today.