Procrastination

Proverbs 27:1 – “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

Procrastination is a big word that is seldom used anymore although it is often practiced. It means to postpone or put off until tomorrow things that should be done today. The Bible warns us against the folly of supposing that the future will accommodate our laziness and delay. We must remember what the Bible says, “thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

Let me share with you a bit of history that is little known by the average citizen; but it had much to do with the birth of the United States. Colonel Rahl, the Hessian commander at Trenton, was playing cards when a courier brought a message stating that General George Washington was crossing the Delaware River. Rahl put the letter in his pocket and didn’t bother to read it until the game was over. Then, realizing the seriousness of the situation, he hurriedly tried to rally his men to meet the coming attack, but his procrastination was his undoing. He and many of his men were killed, and the rest of his regiment were captured. Only a few minutes delay cost him his life and the lives of many of his soldiers.

History is full of wrecks of half-finished plans because of procrastination. “Tomorrow” is the excuse of the lazy and incompetent. What we’ve done in the past may be a mistake and the future may never arrive; yet we’re sure of the present, so “do it today” should be our motto.

Are there some friends you have not shared the gospel with, are there some doors in your neighborhood that need to be knocked on, are there some work companions or children you go to school with that are not saved? Don’t procrastinate – tomorrow may be too late!