Procrastination

by Andrew Cromwell

It has been said that the busiest day in people’s lives is “tomorrow.” To one degree or another, we all have a problem with procrastination.

Recently, I put off taking my car to get smogged. I kept telling myself I would do it, but I just didn’t. When the last day came before the late registration penalties kicked in, I started up my car to drive down to the smog shop. Wouldn’t you know it, the check engine light popped on as if to teach me a lesson. Needless to say, it was a challenging day and all because I procrastinated.

For some of us, procrastination is an art. We have become so good at waiting to the last minute, we don’t even know how to do life any other way. But even for those who would not consider themselves to be chronic procrastinators, there are always some things we keep delaying and putting off. Maybe we do it because we just don’t know how to begin, we are afraid of failing, we are stubborn or we are just plain lazy.

In and of itself, procrastination is not the worst thing in the world. The real question is are we procrastinating about the wrong things? The truth is, some things can wait. Whether or not I wax my car this week or next month is probably not that big of a deal. On the other hand, the conversation I need to have with my spouse or my kids is vitally important.

Some things need to be done now. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey My commands.” He didn’t say, “If you love me, obey me when you get around to it!”

I believe there are three things we need to do now and not delay. First, we need to get right with God. No one is guaranteed tomorrow and no one knows how long his or her life is going to be. The most important and vital thing for us to do is get right with our Creator.

Second, we need to get right with others. In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us it is more important to go and fix broken relationships then it is to go to church! If you have offended someone, go and ask forgiveness — stop delaying. Broken relationships do not fix themselves.

Third, we need to get busy serving others. We have this constant tendency to think our life is about making us happy. It’s not. Jesus said that the way to get life is to give up yours. True life is found when we invest our lives in serving others. James, the brother of Jesus, said, “true religion is to visit the orphan and widow.”

Sometimes we are so busy doing things that are unimportant, we fail to do the things that are really important. Maybe you need to change your life around so that you can do the stuff that really matters. I know I do.

The pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to encourage you to get focused on the right stuff this weekend.  Why don’t you stop putting off what you need to do?

More Than You Can Handle

by Andrew Cromwell

Have you noticed how busy people are these days? If it isn’t work, then it is the kids’ extracurricular activities, or the service clubs or the pet projects. And in the moments in between—at meals or in the car or in waiting rooms—there is no such thing as just sitting. Out comes the phone and these spare moments are used to catch up on email, continue that important text conversation or play Angry Birds.

It is amazing how busy the kids are. Half the time they are more scheduled than their parents. Three to four nights a week they have sports or some other type of class. God forbid they have a day where nothing is scheduled.

And it’s not the kids that get themselves into this predicament—yes, they want to play soccer and basketball and football and go to dance class and guitar class. But, it’s the parents that let it happen. Sometimes I can’t decide if it is because the parents want their kids to have and do everything they didn’t, or if they are afraid that if they don’t put their kid in all these things that somehow they won’t live up to their potential. There is a third option, I don’t like to consider, that involves the parents being afraid of their kids so they want to keep them busy and distracted lest their kids want to have a conversation.

Our whole culture is nuts. Nobody has time to do dinner any more. There is no such thing as an unscheduled day. We are addicted to busyness and adrenaline. What’s worse is that all this activity makes it even more difficult for us to unplug. When it comes time to just sit and do nothing, we find that our skin crawls and our thumbs twitch and we can’t breathe without doing something.

There is a common saying that says, “God never gives you more than you can handle.” We repeat this mantra over and over again whenever we are overwhelmed with life. But there are two problems with this saying.

First, it is not found anywhere in the Bible. God never said it. Jesus never said it. None of the dudes with long beards in the Old or New Testament said it. But somehow we use it as an excuse for not saying “no” to things that just make our life busier and more insane. Instead of being wise and selective, we just repeat it as if it is some special magic sauce that will make things all better.

Second, just the opposite is true. God actually does give you more than you can handle. But He does it so that you look to Him for help. The truth is, if you can handle everything, then you don’t need God. And lots of people are telling God with their schedules, that they don’t need Him.

Anyone ever heard of a day of rest? It’s the idea that you take a day and don’t do anything because you believe that God is big enough to take care of everything else.

So the next time you are tempted to add something to your schedule and say “God never gives you more than you can handle”, maybe you should say “no.” And while you are at it, say “no” to a bunch of things you are already doing. Oh yeah, and let God know He can handle the rest.

The pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to help you and your family connect with a God who rested after work. Maybe your first step to finding some real rest is getting into church this weekend?