First Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas
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Pastor Peck on Procrastination
The following is from an editorial in the December 12, 2007 edition of the Miami County Republic
Don't procrastinate if you want to live an eternal life in heaven
By: Rev. Jerry Peck
Procrastination is a problem that everyone faces in life to varying degrees. Students may procrastinate about preparing for a long-anticipated test. Adults may procrastinate about a much-needed colonoscopy or a multitude of other less-than-pleasant concerns.
In Luke 12:42-46, Jesus told a story about the dynamics of procrastination. He presented two scenarios. In both cases, the master left a manager in charge of his servants during his absence. Neither knew when the master would return. Each manager was expected to be prepared for his master's return at an unknown, unexpected time by faithfully doing his job.
When the master returned in the first scenario, he witnessed the manager faithfully fulfilling his responsibilities, and he rewarded him with a promotion: the privilege of being responsible for all of the master's property. In the second scenario, the manager began to think that his master might be a long time in returning, so he procrastinated about being ready for his inevitable return. He abused the servants and took advantage of them for his own personal benefit. When the returning master observed his lack of faithfulness, the result was significant punishment.
We all tend to have excuses for our procrastination. In Ecclesiastes 10:18, however, Solomon said, “If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.” Loosely quoted, Benjamin Franklin once said, “People, who are good at making excuses, are rarely good at anything else.”
I believe that the most dangerous procrastination of all concerns our relationship with God. It is too easy for us to think, “Someday I will get more serious about God or my Christian faith”
I believe that the most dangerous procrastination of all concerns our relationship with God. It is too easy for us to think, “Someday I will get more serious about God or my Christian faith,” or “Someday I will work more to reflect my Christian faith in worship, or in being a better spouse or parent, or by loving and forgiving someone.” I believe that this is a spiritually dangerous attitude because it sometimes seems that “someday” never arrives.
In John 14:2-3, Jesus said he was going to (heaven) to prepare a place for his disciples, and that someday he would return for them. The catch was that he didn't tell them when his return would occur. This meant it would be necessary for them to be prepared constantly.
How can a person be ready to meet Jesus in eternity? In Mark 16:16, Jesus simply answers, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved...” (NIV) In Psalm 90:12, the psalmist prays, “Teach us to number our days...” (NIV) Paul suggests in Ephesians 5:15-16 that we make the most of every opportunity.
Imagine that a mysterious benefactor would deposit 86,400 pennies in your bank account each day. This would be equivalent to $864 that you would receive each day. The stipulation would be, however, that whatever amount you failed to spend each day, you would lose, and the unused amount of money would never again be available.
God provides each person with 86,400 seconds each day. Seconds that are lost because of procrastination can never be retrieved. God's desire for people is to postpone procrastination indefinitely — especially procrastination about believing in Jesus and being baptized — to wisely use the time that he provides and to constantly be prepared for meeting him in eternity.
