Introduction:
A. If my memory is correct, this is the first time I have ever preached a sermon on the subject of procrastination! I just don’t know why I put if off for so long?
B. Let’s start with a few cartoons to get us thinking about our subject.
1. In the 1st cartoon, a man said to his friend, “It took me forever, but I finally learned to procrastinate.”
a. It takes some people a long time to learn to procrastinate, but for other people it just comes naturally!
2. In the 2nd cartoon, this poor guy showed up for the “Procrastinators Anonymous” meeting only to see this sign on the door, “Tonight’s meeting postponed. To be rescheduled eventually.”
a. I like it…procrastinator’s meeting postponed until…eventually!
3. Maybe this 3rd cartoon sounds like you, “No more putting things off. I’m going to do my procrastinating today instead of tomorrow!”
a. Why wait until tomorrow to put it off? Start putting it off today!
4. The guy in this next cartoon sounds so sophisticated, “I’m not procrastinating. I’m proactively delaying the implementation of the energy-intensive phase of the project until the enthusiasm factor is at its maximum effectiveness.” All I can say is, “Yeah, right!”
5. In this cartoon, a husband lying on a couch explains to his wife, “I’ll have you know you’re talking to the leader of the largest nation on earth.”
a. His wife asks, “And what nation is that?” He answers, “Procrastination!”
b. Are you the leader of that nation?
6. In this last cartoon, Ziggy is looking at a sign that says, “Future site of the Procrastinator’s Club.”
a. I wonder how long that sign has been there?
C. Actually, I’m told that there is a national organization of procrastinators headquartered in Philadelphia, PA.
1. Supposedly, it was formed in 1957 and at one time had several thousand members.
2. I tried to google it, but couldn’t find it.
3. I did find a Facebook page for the National Association of Procrastinators (known as N.A.P.).
4. And I did find a Procrastination Association that even has a Procrastinator’s Creed.
a. The creed includes the following beliefs and commitments:
1. I believe that if anything is worth doing, it would have been done already.
2. I shall never move quickly, except to avoid more work or find excuses.
3. I will never rush into a job without a lifetime of consideration.
4. I firmly believe that tomorrow holds the possibility for new technologies, astounding discoveries, and a reprieve from my obligations.
5. I truly believe that all deadlines are unreasonable regardless of the amount of time given.
6. If at first I don't succeed, there is always next year.
7. I shall always decide not to decide, unless of course I decide to change my mind.
8. I will never put off until tomorrow, what I can forget about forever.
D. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres said, “Procrastination isn't the problem, it's the solution. So procrastinate now, don't put it off.”
1. As funny as all this sounds, in reality it isn’t a laughing matter.
2. Procrastination can cause many problems and can lead to disastrous consequences.
3. Let’s explore the subject of procrastination by exploring several questions.
I. What Things Do We Procrastinate About?
A. If we are being honest, then we all would have to admit that we all are guilty of procrastinating about something at some point, right?
1. Do we have anyone here who has never procrastinated about anything, ever?
B. First, we procrastinate about Mundane Things
1. Sometimes we procrastinate about certain tasks that are hard to get motivated to do, like: cleaning out a closet or storage room, or going through the stack of mail, or stack of old magazines, or returning phone calls.
2. When we procrastinate about doing boring or mundane jobs its usually no “big deal,” but the thought that these things need to be done will nag us until we do them.
C. Second, we procrastinate about Important Things
1. Unfortunately, sometimes we procrastinate when it comes to doing some really important things, like: going to the doctor for a checkup, or completing a project at work, or doing our income taxes, or writing out our will, or changing the oil in the car, or starting that diet or exercise program.
2. When we procrastinate on these kinds of things, it can prove to be very costly to our health, or our wallet, or both!
D. Third, we procrastinate about Spiritual Things (which are the most important things)
1. Tragically, we sometimes procrastinate when it comes to important spiritual matters, such as reading our Bible, or spending time in prayer, or giving up a sinful habit, or talking to loved ones or friends about Jesus, or even accepting Christ and being baptized.
2. Procrastinating on important spiritual matters can not only have a serious effect on our relationship with God, it can even have eternal consequences for us and for others.
3. That’s why the subject of procrastination is such an important one for us to address, today!
II. Why Do We Procrastinate?
A. When we procrastinate, we all exhibit the same symptom, which is: we are not doing something that we need to be doing.
1. What we need to realize is that although the symptom is similar, that doesn’t mean it is coming from the same cause.
2. For instance, if you have a pain in your foot, and I have a pain in my foot, the symptom is the same, we both have pain.
a. But if our treatment of the pain is going to be effective, we must discover the cause of the pain.
b. If the pain is coming from a splinter that is infected, the treatment is going to be very different than if the pain is coming from a pulled tendon, or a broken bone.
3. So, if we are going to conquer procrastination, then we need to be aware of the root cause.
B. So, why do we procrastinate? First, Sometimes we procrastinate because we are afraid.
1. If it is a decision that we must make, we may be afraid of making the wrong decision.
2. A person might be avoiding the dentist because they are afraid of dentists or the pain that sometimes comes from addressing problems with our teeth.
3. A person might also delay going to the doctor because they are afraid of what the doctor might find or what the doctor might tell you to do.
4. So, fear can cause us to procrastinate and our fears must be addressed if we are going to be able to get moving.
C. Second, Sometimes we procrastinate because we are perfectionists.
1. Perfectionists may be afraid of failure.
2. Perfectionists procrastinate until they are sure they have enough time to complete the project, or until they are sure they know everything they need to know, or have the right conditions.
3. They may even wait until the last moment so they can blame any shortcoming of the finished project on insufficient time.
4. So, being perfectionistic can cause us to procrastinate and our perfectionism must be addressed.
D. Third, Sometimes we procrastinate to show others who is the “boss.”
1. This is sometimes referred to as being “passive-aggressive.” It is the indirect expression of hostility through procrastination.
2. The person might say to himself or herself, “I know I should be starting this task, but my spouse has been bugging me about it and I’m going to show them who is in charge.”
3. Procrastination can be a way of getting back at people we are angry with – like procrastinating getting ready to go to a function so as to make us late, just to get back at the person who wants to get there on time.
4. So, sometimes we procrastinate to show who is in control and our anger and hostility must be addressed if we are going to move forward.
E. Fourth, Sometimes we procrastinate because we lack perspective or management skills.
1. This person has a hard time knowing which tasks need to be tackled right away and which can or should be delayed.
2. They might spend the day reorganizing a drawer in the kitchen, when the more important thing would have been getting dinner made to feed the family, or washing the sink full of dirty dishes.
3. So, we may need some help with decision making and management skills.
F. Fifth, Sometimes we procrastinate because we are lazy or want to avoid what is difficult.
1. Some people just don’t want to do any more than they absolutely have to do.
2. For most of us, it is easier to do nothing than to do something.
3. And most of us will delay starting tasks that may be difficult or unpleasant in favor of more pleasurable activities.
4. So, these are some of the root causes that need to be considered as we talk about the next question.
III. How Can We Overcome Procrastination?
A. Let me share with you 4 Principles for overcoming procrastination that I’ve borrowed from Brandon Park.
1. The 4 principles are arranged in an acronym of the word T.I.M.E.
2. So, inaddition to addressing the root causes of our procrastination, these four principles can help us get moving in accomplishing important things in our lives.
B. The “T” stands for TUNE into God through prayer (Prayer Principle)
1. We need to start our day with prayer.
2. Some people pray, “Good morning, Lord!” Others start with, “Good Lord, It’s morning?”
3. We need to start the day saying, “General Jesus, this is private David reporting for duty.”
4. We need to ask God to reveal to us our schedule and marching orders for the day.
5. Do you think that God will give us enough time to accomplish what He wants us to do on a given day? He will if we are following His schedule.
6. So let’s start by tuning into God through prayer.
C. The “I” stands for IDENTIFY the Priorities of the day (Priority Principle)
1. Years ago Charles Schwab (the famous investor) asked a man named Ivy Lee to come and help him become more productive.
a. Ivy Lee suggested a plan that was underwhelmingly simple.
b. He suggested that Schwab take time each day to write down the six most important things that he should do that day.
c. Then he encouraged him to list them in order of their importance.
d. He should do the thing that tops the list, and when that is finished move on to the next.
2. Schwab asked, “How much do I owe you for this advice?”
a. Lee said, “Use that method for several months and then send me a check based on how valuable it is to you.
b. Several months later, Lee received a check from Charles Schwab for $25,000.
3. With God’s help we can determine the priority of the things we need to do each day, and then work to complete them, one by one.
D. The “M” stands for MOTIVATE yourself to Act Promptly (Promptness Principle)
1. Let me ask you this question: How quickly should we obey God?
2. When we have the sense that God wants us to do something, how long should we delay our obedience?
a. David wrote in Ps. 119:60: “I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”
3. I like the example of many people in the Bible who responded immediately when God called them.
4. Genesis 12:1 and 2 says, The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you…” (in the rest of verses 2 and 3, God describes how He will bless Abram).
a. Verse 4 says, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him…”
5. Matthew 4:18-22 says, As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
6. I want to encourage all of us to cultivate the habit of instant obedience to God.
7. Let’s be motivated to respond promptly to God’s will for us.
E. The “E” stands for ENERGIZE your life with God’s Power (Power Principle)
1. Earlier in this series we talked about the fact that where there is the will, God will supply the way or the power.
2. Here’s a helpful, catchy saying, “When we have a job to do, begin this very hour. You supply the will, God supplies the power.”
3. We can’t do it without God’s power, but God’s power cannot work through us except when our will allows it to.
F. These 4 Principles can help us overcome our tendency toward procrastination – T.I.M.E.
1. Tune into God through prayer.
2. Identify the priorities of the day.
3. Motivate yourself to act promptly.
4. Energize yourself with God’s power.
5. Let’s finish up with this important question…
IV. Why Should We Strive to Overcome Procrastination? Let me offer two answers.
A. Because procrastination does not take into account the uncertainty and the brevity of life.
1. The Bible often warns us of the brevity and uncertainty of life and uses 18 different metaphors to make that point, including flowers, grass, mist, and fog.
2. Prov. 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
3. James 4:13-14 says, Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
4. Ps. 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
5. Eph. 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
6. Time is a gift from God, and it should be used wisely and carefully for God’s glory.
7. Imagine if a banker called you with the wonderful news that an anonymous donor had decided to deposit 86,400 pennies into your bank account every day.
a. 86,400 pennies is $864 dollars. That’s $864 dollars every day for the rest of your life.
b. But there is one stipulation – you’ve got to spend all that money that same day.
c. No balance will be carried over to the next day.
d. Every night the bank will cancel whatever sum you fail to use.
e. And if you repeatedly fail to use all the money, then the money will stop being given.
8. Did you know that every morning God deposits 86,400 seconds into your “time bank.”
a. Every day that we are given has 86,400 seconds, that’s 1,440 minutes, that’s 24 hours.
b. God expects us to use our time wisely, and none of it can be carried over on credit to the next day.
c. Today is the only day we’ve got, tomorrow may never come, and if tomorrow comes, then it is not tomorrow, it is today.
9. To speak of tomorrow is presumptuous and even reckless. The right word is “today.”
B. Second, we should strive to overcome procrastination, because procrastination does not take into account the uniqueness and delicateness of conviction.
1. Life holds defining moments for us – times when God reaches into time and space and deals with us, directly and personally.
a. When God touches our hearts and speaks to our minds and we are convicted, that is a special moment.
b. If we let that moment pass, we may never hear Christ’s voice as clearly.
c. If we let that moment pass, we may never have that strong feeling that we need to obey.
d. If tomorrow or next week comes, our minds may be filled with other thoughts, we may not be as in tune or sensitive to God’s call.
2. I’m reminded of a time when the Apostle Paul had an opportunity to defend himself and preach the gospel to a man named Felix.
a. Felix was a Roman governor, and was a despicable character.
b. The Roman historian, Tacitus said of him, “Felix is a man of lust and cruelty.”
c. Felix was married to his third wife, the daughter of Herod Aggripa I, whom he had seduced from her former husband, who was a king.
d. The Bible says in Acts 24:24-25: Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
e. As Paul preached the Word of God to Felix, the Bible says that Felix began to tremble – the Greek word used here indicates that he was filled with fear.
f. Perhaps his conscience was calling for relief as his sins cried out against him.
g. He should have repented, but he procrastinated.
h. Felix sent Paul away until a more convenient time.
i. The Bible says that Felix called for Paul frequently over the next two years, but it never says that Felix ever felt again the fear of conviction.
3. When God touches us with conviction it is a unique and delicate moment that must be acted upon.
4. Satan’s favorite tactic is to whisper in our ear, “There is no hurry. Tomorrow would be a better time to repent and turn to God.”
5. God says, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2)
6. Who are you listening to? Whose instructions are you following?
7. Is there something you need to do to make things right with God? If so, do not delay.
8. Don’t let this moment pass by.
Resources:
Procrastination, Sermon by D. James Kennedy, Sept. 30, 1990.
How to Overcome Procrastination, Sermon by Reggie Braziel, Aug. 11, 2013.
Postponing Your Procrastination, Sermon by Brandon Park, SermonCentral.com.
The Danger of Delay, Sermon by Batsell Barrett Baxter, April17, 1966.
Procrastination: Conquering the Time Killer – A Christian Cure, article by Steve Cable, Probe Ministries
