If Not Now, Then When?

“If Not Now, Then When?”

Psalm 119:57-64

David P. Nolte

There are some things we are eager to get on with. We conceive of some project and can hardly wait to get working on it. We chomp at the bit, we fret and fuss until we can start.

Or maybe we plan a trip and it seems that the time for departure will never come.

It might be a dinner appointment with our best friends and we are eager for the appointed time to arrive.

Conversely, there are those dreaded things which loom up before us and which we keep postponing as long as possible.

We may need to have a tooth extracted, or we may have a huge medical test coming up.|

There are those things which we fully intend to get to, but for this or that reason just don't seem to get around to it. We act like the man whose roof leaked and he would say, "I can't fix the roof today because it's raining. Tomorrow, when the sun is shining, I will do it." The problem is that when the next day came and the sun was shining, he'd say, "No use worrying about that leaky roof. It's not raining so it's no problem. Tomorrow, if it rains, I'll fix it." Tomorrow. The creed of the procrastinator is "Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow."

David wrote, “LORD, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations. I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments. O LORD, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.” Psalm 119:57-64 (NLT2)

The favorite words of the procrastinator are "Tomorrow!" "Sometime!" and "Later!" Their motto is, "I'll do it when I get around to it."

So today we will consider getting around to it.

I. WHEN OPPORTUNITY COMES, GET AROUND TO IT!

A. David wrote, “I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands.”

B. Listen to Paul on getting to it:

1. Ephesians 5:15, 16 "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil."

2. Colossians 4:5 "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity."

C. Here are six important opportunities:

1. Being of service to our fellow man:

a. Proverbs 3:27, 28 "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

b. when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,' when you have it with you."

c. Galatians 6:9, 10 "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."

2. Becoming faithful stewards of what God gives us:

a. He gives us our time. We ought to get around to using it wisely and for His purposes.

b. He gives us our talents. We ought to get around to using them for His glory.

c. He gives us our treasure. We ought to get around to bringing Him the full tithe.

3. Receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior:

a. Isaiah 55:6 "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near."

b. 2 Corinthians 6:2 "for He says, 'At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you;' behold, now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation.'"

4. Deepening our relationship with Christ:

a. Paul's pressing desire was to know Christ more intimately. He wrote in Philippians 3:8 "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ,"

b. Ecclesiastes 12:1 "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no delight in them.'"

5. Being faithful workers in the local congregation:

a. There are plenty of needs for workers: teachers, youth workers, audio-visual helpers, property and ground maintenance, musicians, visitation ministries, benevolent ministries and on and on.