Ministry Resources

I’ll Do It Later

Author: The Journey Online Team

Our days are often filled to capacity with the obligations of life.

We put off doing non-urgent chores, such as making a doctor’s appointment, calling a relative or friend, and writing a note of encouragement or thanks. These seem minor to us at the time, but neglecting to follow through can have long-reaching consequences. When we treat all chores as important, we will be less prone to wait until it is more convenient.

Procrastination

Procrastination played a part in my present health condition.

I kept putting off taking calcium. Several years ago, I had a bone scan, and my doctor informed me that I had acute osteoporosis for my age. I take my medicine now, but because I chose to neglect what should have been done, I have a condition that limits many of my daily activities.

A personal devotional time is vital for a solid foundation in our Christian life, but it is often the primary casualty of our busy schedule. We would rather relax and watch TV after a hectic day at the office or bustling children back and forth to school and activities. The Lord knows we need time to relax and rest, but should we postpone our time with Him?

When our pastor’s sermon touches our hearts about a certain area of our lives that needs correcting, do we follow through and take care of the issue? If we procrastinate, our desire to change will weaken and end in failure. Good intentions alone will never get the job done.

“Hearing the Word can be even more dangerous than not hearing it, if the act of hearing lulls us into complacency,” said LeRoy Koopman in his book, Beauty Care for the Ears.

When we continue to procrastinate, we can convince ourselves we are progressing.

Underlying Problem

New Year’s is a time of new beginnings, and many of us enjoy a fresh start at completing the goals which we did not accomplish from the previous year. We feel a new year will be different, and we ask the Lord to help us. However, we seldom address the underlying culprit causing our continued failure. Admitting we are procrastinators is not easy when we see ourselves as organized and responsible people.

Procrastination is a habit we usually learn early in life. Waiting until the last minute to do homework assignments and study for exams sets the groundwork for further neglect. If allowed to continue, it will cause a problem in every area of our lives and will bring unnecessary stress and frustration as unfinished tasks mount.

We have a choice, and our life will be richer when we fulfill, on a timely basis, what needs to be done for the Lord, for our families and for our health and wellbeing.

There are many areas where procrastination has put our life on hold, such as:

  • Asking forgiveness of a loved one or friend
  • Contacting our congressional representative about harmful legislation
  • Paying off credit cards
  • Saving money consistently
  • Tithing
  • Exercising

Procrastination will keep us spiritually weak, financially stressed, with our health in question. Facing a mountain of tasks can be daunting, but with the Lord’s help we can resolve to activate our will, spending part of every day taking care of the backlog of responsibilities.

The Lord loves us and understands it is a challenge for us to deal with this damaging habit, but He will be with us every step of the way. We can have a life free from the crippling statement, “I’ll do it later.”

Bibliography

LeRoy, Koopman. Beauty Care for the Ears. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1980.

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