Do you put off till tomorrow or the next day or the next day or the next what you should’ve done today?

Doctors and Psychologist tell us that two of the leading causes of both physical and mental destruction are the partners of procrastination and anxiety.

A survival guide for anxiety has already been discussed but the irony is procrastination ultimately leads to anxiety.

The frustration of knowing that one has unfinished business in his life leads to “high anxiety”; not just another anxious moment but clinical anxiety requiring anything from medication to hospitalization for control of the anxiety.

Putting off what needs to be done now is unhealthy physically, mentally and spiritually.

Failure to see a doctor when you’re sick can only worsen your condition, failure to see a counselor when  you’re emotionally troubled just  complicates your ability to stabilize your emotions and your failure to pray, seek Christian fellowship and study the Bible regularly depletes your  spiritual power and ability.

Procrastination is one the most dangerous and disastrous fires of life.

The writer of the book of Hebrews (either the Apostle Paul or his friend Priscilla) is very concerned with the well being of the child of God and besides the central issue of faith which Hebrews is primarily about the writer seems to be concerned with the issue of “procrastination”.

Hebrews 3:13, says “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

In general, the writer is interested in Christians not being procrastinators and insistent that procrastination is sin.

The Bible is very aware that human beings are plagued by the problem of procrastination and it is not just procrastination itself but results of procrastination which are of great concern.

Although many, there are four specific problems procrastination causes:

• Procrastination PETRIFIES – that is, it hardens your heart.  As we continually postpone what we should have done, it becomes easier and easier to put off more and more until we develop calluses of contrite upon our heart.  This often makes us unloving, less compassionate, and full of misery, malice and bad memories.

• Procrastination POISONS – it slowly but surely kills individuals, homes, marriages and even churches. Just like someone who has ingested a lethal dose of a slow killing poison, PROCRASTINATION can so convince a person that continually putting off is so normal that  before the full effects are felt, “baam” your life is destroyed.

• Procrastination PENETRATES – the lives of others; friends, family and even people we might not even know. If your employer is depending on you to do something today and it doesn’t get done, your procrastination penetrates your employer’s business.  Your failure to help your child with their home work can penetrate their life and possibly cause them a bad grade in school. Your failure to pay your power bill penetrates your entire family and results in misery for you and your family.

• Procrastination PARALYZES – When things need to be done today but get put off until tomorrow lives become stagnant and many times go nowhere.

It’s much like needing a new car battery. You keep trying to charge it over and again until one day you find the battery will no longer take a charge and your car won’t start, you’re stuck standing still and going nowhere.

The Bible gives a 4-Fold approach to getting rid of Procrastination:

 

• Don’t procrastinate getting rid of PROCRASTINATION. Don’t doubt God. Hebrews 3:12 states, “12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”

• Begin IMMEDIATELY – Turn idleness into encouragement. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13

• Live your life with CONFIDENCE………confidence in Christ. 14 “We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end”. Hebrews 3:14

• Proceed Immediately (in God’s will) so as NOT to change and NOT to rebel. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”  Hebrews 3:15

The fact is that most people procrastinate.

The great paradox of procrastination is that most people procrastinate getting rid of procrastination.

Begin a new today by making a commitment to rid yourself of procrastination, attempt to finish those unfinished things in your life, develop a strong confidence about your life and be quick to encourage and help others eliminate procrastination in their lives as well.

 

©Copyright 2015 Dr. Lee W. Outlaw III