Putting and End to Procrastination
Breaking Free - Part 4 of 8
James 4:17
A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of corn in the road. The farmer who lived nearby came
to investigate. "Hey, Willis," he called out, "forget your troubles for a spell and come on in and have
dinner with us. Then I’ll help you get the wagon up." "That’s mighty nice of you," Willis answered,
"But I don’t think Pa would like me to." "Aw, come on, son!" the farmer insisted. "Well, okay," the
boy finally agreed. "But Pa won’t like it." After a hearty dinner, Willis thanked his host. "I feel
a lot better now, but I just know Pa is going to be real upset." "Don’t be foolish!" exclaimed the
neighbor. "By the way, where is he?" "Under the wagon." Friends, that’s procrastination!
We tend to think, "Anything worth doing is worth doing tomorrow." But the truth is that putting
things off often causes additional problems. Procrastination is a universal problem. The problem
with procrastination is that it becomes a way of life, a lifestyle. The more you do it the better
you become at it. Some people are professional procrastinators. They are very, very good at it.
Here is the mind set of a procrastinator: "I'll start early this time... I've got to start
soon... I should have started sooner... There's still time to do it... What's wrong with me?..
I can't wait any longer!.. Just get it done!.. Next time I'll start earlier." The cycle repeats.
Procrastination is my sin; it only brings me sorrow
I know that I should give it up; in fact I will - tomorrow!
The Bible has a lot to say about procrastination. James 4:17 says,"Anyone who knows
the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." We know the things we ought to do
and we don't do them. Why? This morning we're going to look at the causes and the
cure of procrastination.
THE CAUSES OF PROCRASTINATION
Let’s begin by trying to understand why we procrastinate. One of the main causes is
indecision. James 1:8 says, "A double minded man is unstable in all he does." Have
you ever sent a waiter away at a restaurant because you couldn't make up your mind?
Indecision causes you to postpone buying a car, choosing a college, getting married,
buying new clothes, changing a job.
Another cause of procrastination is perfectionism. Eccl.11:4 says, "If you wait for
perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done!" Perfectionism causes all kinds
of problems. If you wait for things to be perfect, you're going to wait a long time.
You don't have the time or the money for things to be perfect.
The third cause is fear. The Bible says "The fear of man is a trap" (Prov.29:25).
When I'm afraid I put things off. How many of you have been postponing going to the
dentist? Or having that needed surgery? Or getting that marriage counseling? Making
that sales call? Sharing your faith at work? Ask yourself, "What am I afraid of?"
Finally, simple laziness is a cause of procrastination. Proverbs 13:4 says, "Lazy
people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering." One of the most
popular words in America is "easy". If it's easy we like it. If it's hard we don't
like it. Can you imagine a best seller Ten Difficult Steps to Change Your Life or
Fifteen Difficult Ways To Get In Shape. If it's easy we like it. If it's hard we
don't like it, and we put it off.
This week I found several websites on the internet that were dedicated to the art of
procrastination. One website - www.despair.com - contained what they call de-motivators.
These are little note cards and calendars and posters you can put in your office at work
or around the house to de-motivate you to do your best. Here are some examples:
"Procrastination: Hard work often pays off over time, but laziness pays off now."
"Do it later. The Early worm is for the birds." "Risks: If you never try anything
new, you’ll miss out on many of life’s great disappointments." You can actually get
these framed for your house for only $100! Celebrate your procrastination.
THE CURE FOR PROCRASTINATION
First, stop making excuses. Proverbs 22:13 says, "The lazy man is full of excuses." Have
you noticed that other people make excuses but we have reasons? What's your excuse? What
have you been saying, "One of these days..." you're going to do? The Bible says "The lazy
man is full of excuses." Ben Franklin: "People who are good at making excuses are rarely
good at anything else." We become pros at it. What is your excuse for procrastinating,
putting off, not changing your life?
Second, start today. There are a couple of misconceptions about procrastination. When you
procrastinate you're saying to yourself, "It's easier to avoid this than to face it" and
that's wrong. Many marriages break up because of this. Both partners knew exactly what
needed to be done to make their marriage work but neither or one was not willing to make
the effort. "I want my marriage to get better but I'm not willing to work at it. I'm not
willing to get help for it. Maybe if I just wait it will get better." It won’t.
The other misconception is "It will be easier to handle this later" and that's wrong too.
Whittier said, "The saddest words of tongue and men are `It would, it could, it might
have been.'" If only... While we're postponing, life is speeding by. Procrastination ruins
opportunities. Whatever it is you're going to do, do it now! Proverbs 21:1says, "Never
boast about tomorrow. You don't know what will happen between now and then." None of us
is guaranteed a tomorrow. You say, "I'll do it someday." Someday is today! One of these
days is none of these days. Start today!
I remember talking with a guy who had been talking for months about starting a healthier
lifestyle. I heard him time after time say, "I'm aiming to change one of these days." I
just want to say, "When are you going to pull the trigger?" He had been aiming for too
long! It was time to start!
Here are three words that will change your life: DO IT NOW! That would do so much for your
Christian life if you would just start doing what you know you ought to do now. Not next
week, next year, now! Every time you catch yourself saying "I'll do it later" that is a
warning light that says, "You're procrastinating." There's not a better time than now.
This is the moment of truth. There's got to be a time in your life when you stop intending
and start acting. Stop making excuses and start today! NASA says that the greatest amount
of energy is required just in getting the rocket off the pad. Once it's in orbit it's a
cinch. It's the initial thrust of getting started. If you can only work on your goal 15
minutes a day, do it! Start today.
Third, establish a planned schedule. You've got to do this. Proverbs 13:16 says, "A wise
man plans ahead. A fool doesn't." If you fail to plan you're planning to fail. You need
to designate some specific time slots each week for your subject, for your task. Block it out.
Some of you say, "I'll do it when I have the time..." You won't have more time than you
do now. You've got to make time. Schedule it. The Bible says, "A wise man plans ahead."
We’re not being smart if we’re not planning our life out.
Paul said in Ephesians 5:16, "Live like wise men. Make good use of every opportunity."
Break those big tasks into small, bite sized pieces. Establish a schedule. The Bible
says wise people plan and make good use of every opportunity.
Fourth, face your fears. That's really behind all avoidance. If you're avoiding something
you're afraid of it. You have to identify those fears and then deal with them.
We hate to admit that we have fears. We think fear is a sign of weakness, but it’s not.
Mark Twain said, "Courage is not the absence of fear, it's moving ahead in spite of
them." There is only one way to deal with fears and that is to face it. When you avoid
a fear it gets bigger, when you face it, it grows smaller. You have to face the fears.
And you move against it.
Ask yourself, "What am I afraid of? ... What is the worst that could happen? Philippians
4:13 says, "There is nothing I cannot master with the help of Christ who gives me
strength." Circle "nothing". God wants to help you. He wants you to break out of the
rut, to stop procrastinating. He wants you to stop stewing and start doing. Stop
worrying about it and get in the game!
The Bible, from cover to cover, always challenges us to act in the present. The Bible says,
"Today is the day of salvation." If you've never opened up your life to Christ, do it now.
Don't wait. Some of you have been thinking about it for weeks, months, maybe years. What
are you waiting on? Many of you have already made that initial commitment. You're a
Christian and you say, "Someday I'm going to get involved. I'm going to start tithing.
I'm going to start reading my Bible. I'm going to really live for the Lord. I'm going
to stop doing those things that I know are displeasing to God. I'm going to lay them aside.
Someday I'm going to really work on my marriage. Someday I'm going to get counseling.
Someday I'm going to clean up my life.
When? What's your excuse for not doing it right now? You are as close to God as you want to be.
I invite each of you to first say, "Jesus Christ, help me to quit procrastinating with my life
and make it count." Say, "God I want to start right now. Jesus Christ, come into my life. I've
waited long enough."
Father, help us not to waste our lives but make them count. Give us the strength to stop making
excuses, face our fears, plan our lives and make the most of the opportunities You give us.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Brother Polk preached a series of sermons on baptism you may enjoy by following these links.
Baptism - A Meaningful Act | Jump Right In - the Water is Fine
A Paper on Infant Baptism | Infant Baptism?
