Procrastination

Issues – October 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Procrastination

Procrastination – which is to put things off – is a villain, powerful and able to thwart ambition and destroy happiness. It is a killer that can do its insidious work not only in the physical domain but, far more dangerously, in the spiritual realm as well.

Procrastination is a bad habit, which no one can ignore with impunity, or negative effects. It is not an intrinsic part of one’s personality, nor is it a disease, but it is a bad habit that must be broken. To try to break it in our own strength is a futile endeavor; it can only be broken in dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, when we place ourselves fully in His hand.

What a deadly danger procrastination is to the unsaved who sit under the sound of the gospel. Their natural inclination, if procrastinators, is to push aside to a more convenient time God’s offer of mercy through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Tomorrow,” they say, and do not stop to think that tomorrow may never come. The only time God says is available to them is “now” – the time it takes to draw a breath. “Now” certainly is not very long at all, is it? Felix in Acts 24 is a classic example of this kind of procrastination. We do not read of him ever being saved. Indeed, to the unsaved, procrastination could well entail spending eternity in the place prepared for Satan and those who serve him.

Does procrastination affect a child of God? If so, how? And how far-reaching are its effects? All of us who are Christians make resolutions which, unfortunately, we often do not keep. We allocate periods during the day to be set aside for prayer, Bible reading and meditation, and undoubtedly we intend to keep these times. But something so often comes in. Satan is not inactive. He will always endeavor to make it easy for us to break our appointments with God. When he succeeds, he is happy, for often it means that these times may be almost discontinued.

The effect of this will not only be felt by ourselves, though this in itself is already serious, but our assembly life will also suffer. In due course, other than the breaking of bread on the Lord’s Day, we will probably attend few meetings regularly. We will, of course, still be present at conferences and when visiting brethren come from distant parts. However, the whole assembly will suffer as the importance of attending prayer meetings, Bible studies, ministry meetings and the gospel meeting is neglected – as well as the preparation of Sunday School lessons, if one is teacher of a class. In our early Christian life we considered these things essential to our spiritual welfare, but now they no longer seem so important.

Still worse, the Holy Spirit will be quenched and grieved, as will also the Lord Jesus Christ who took our place at Calvary. God the Father will not receive the worship He longs for from those He loves, and for whom in His love He gave His Son on the cross. If we procrastinate in spiritual things, our lives will be deprived of communion; we will not experience the peace and joy our Lord would have us receive.

But this need not continue. If we realize we are guilty of procrastination, let us approach the throne of grace. In the name above all names, the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us seek forgiveness and renewal of communion. We may be sure that we will be heard, for we have an Advocate who is continually making intercession on our behalf, and He will restore our lost communion. But, let us not procrastinate to seek His face!

By Charles Hanson

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” —Proverbs 27:1 NKJVHow common is this spirit of procrastination! We so easily neglect what ought to be done now, assuring ourselves, or others, that we will do it without fail in the future. But tomorrow comes and goes, and it is still undone. The honest energy of faith is needed to put us on our feet, to have done now what ought to be done. Only the present is ours. Let us act while we have the time. Certainly we know this is of supreme importance in regard to the salvation of the soul. In a great number of cases it is put off until in old age one is hardened beyond concern. If we neglect but one day, how can we know what may transpire to render our case hopeless? Let us rule in the sanctuary of our own hearts. — L. M. Grant (adapted from Wisdom’s Closing Message)