What are You Waiting for?
If you ever wrote a paper in college the night before it was due, raise your hand. If your school habit was pulling all-nighters before test day, raise your hand. If you ever put something off telling yourself that you will do it another time and then forgot all about it, raise your hand. If tomorrow is your favorite project day, you are a procrastinator.
I understand procrastination. I think I am one of the biggest procrastinators that I know. It is not that I am afraid of work. It is not always that I don’t know how to do whatever it is that needs to be done. (Though there are times that I try to do something that I don’t really know what to do but I press on anyway.)
I think there are reasons why people procrastinate, at least it is true of me. Distraction leads to procrastination. It is very easy to make lists of the projects you want to do. It is also very easy to notice so many other things to do along the way. Usually those other things offer so much more fun than the difficult project.
Improper priorities lead to procrastination. Projects are of various levels of priorities. To do lists always reflect higher to lower priorities. There are times, though, when the tasks that should have the higher priorities are not treated that way. Then, those tasks are often overlooked and left undone.
Fear of failure leads to procrastination. Anyone who carries out a project knows that someone will notice what you have done. Any good person wants to do projects well and please someone by them. But, sometimes that desire to please restricts the completion of the harder projects.
Impatience leads to procrastination. This seems strange. If someone is so impatient for something to be completed, how could that person procrastinate? However, it is rather easy to understand. The desire for something to be completed is so strong that you can’t bear the thought of gradually bringing it to completion and therefore it is left undone.
These reasons also describe why people procrastinate in their spiritual lives. Distraction is the biggest reason. James 1:14 describes this. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” Failing to focus on spiritual development because of paying attention to distractions is our biggest fault.
Spiritual development is hindered because of improper priorities. Governor Felix heard Paul’s message and responded, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” (Acts 24:25). It seems that he really did not want what Paul offered because his priorities were placed elsewhere.
Some people are procrastinate their spiritual development because of the fear of failure. I have heard someone say that they did not want to become a Christian because they thought they would fail. The one-talent man of Matthew 25 did nothing with his talent because he was afraid of failing if he did something (verse 25).
We are a society that always looks for the quick and easy fix. We seem to have no patience at all. Naaman was just like that. He was told that his dreaded disease of leprosy could be cured if he would go and dip himself 7 times in the river Jordan. He was angry because the prophet did not come out and perform a quick and immediate healing (II King 5:11-12).
What’s causing you to wait?
— Mike Johnson
