OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION
READ JAMES 4:6-17
I pride myself on keeping a clean house. Without notice, someone could stop by and tour my home without stepping over piles of dirty clothes or a week’s worth of garbage. No negative judgments would I endure from an impromptu guest, shocked at what they see. Dishes are washed, laundry is done, and my house is mess-free… except for my basement workbench. That is my eyesore, the one disorganized pile I haven’t touched. It keeps getting worse because I use it as my catch-all landing place for junk, hidden away downstairs like a dirty secret!
Why? Because I am guilty of the habit of procrastination. This is the mind-game that we play, telling ourselves that we can put off doing something until “later.” It is like a clock that has three hands. The big hand is for the minutes, the little hand is for the hour, and a third hand is marked “later.” Unfortunately, the habitual delay of projects only compounds the work we need to do. If we cave to the lulling promise of “later,” then projects stockpile, bills and paperwork accumulate, and tasks seem insurmountable. Eventually, we find ourselves overwhelmed and become discouraged.
Overcoming chronic procrastination requires identifying its appeal, admitting our lack of urgency, and adopting a “now” mentality. We can free ourselves from those guilty feelings when we get busy and do something that needs to be done. We will feel empowered from a sense of accomplishment that propels us forward.
Let’s see what the Bible says about procrastination. “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) This says that we know what we are supposed to do, but for some reason, we don’t or won’t do it. Fear, apathy, disinterest, or downright laziness block our way. Rather than face our weak-willed habit, we tell ourselves, “I’ll do it later,” and push the timeline to some undetermined future. Not doing our dirty laundry is one thing, but ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit to act for God is much more serious. The Bible says that inaction is as much of a sin as wrong action.
Don’t put off the opportunities that God lays ahead for you. Now is the call to action! Muster self-discipline to identify fear, laziness, and guilt. Desire motivation by giving yourself good reasons to act. The fix is found in this scripture: “For God does not give us a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) God says that He will give us the power to overcome procrastination. He will help us move on our practical projects and spiritual callings. We can acquire the discipline to carry out the things on our “to do” list. He gives us the power to move forward with our practical projects, such as finishing that remodeling job. And the self-discipline to carry out the things that we know we need to do, such as reading the Bible every day. God will give us the ability to exert power in the little things and in the vital things.
By His Spirit, we can have a clear, organized mind to accomplish our tasks and personal goals. A sense of victory will energize us. We will gain a sense of pride and self-honor when we see ourselves becoming proactive. Heading off problems before they snowball will save us time, money, and peace of mind in the long run. That is love, power, and self-discipline in motion.
Like my workbench, let’s take it piece by piece, put everything in its place and eventually clean it up. Let’s stop making excuses and learn to live higher by believing in God’s power to accomplish what we know we need to do.
