Procrastination

 I’ve been meaning to write on this subject for a long time, but I kept putting it off.  Procrastination is the habitual practice of not doing something due to carelessness or laziness.  We are all guilty of this act, or shall I say lack there of, at one point or another in our lives. Kids procrastinate about taking out the garbage, feeding the animals, cleaning their rooms, as they get older they procrastinate about getting their homework done, and even adults are guilty of putting things off.  We can get away being procrastinators in some areas of life, but when it comes to our spiritual actions, we must be doers of God’s word not merely hearers James 1:22.

What Can We Do?

    Let us look at some qualities we need to add to our lives in order to remove procrastination from it.  First of all we must be committed. Notice what Luke teaches in Lk 9:57-62, “Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." We learn from this that man must be whole-heartedly devoted to God. Luke writes of two men who wanted to follow Christ but there was something holding each of them back. Our Lord illustrates that no matter what the circumstances one must follow Him. Not only does God demand commitment but he also demonstrated it to us. In fact, faithfulness is one of God’s characteristics 2 Tim 2:13. We find in Scriptures many statement that attest to this and countless examples of his commitment to us. Gal 1:3-4 tells us He was committed to delivering us from sin ; he helped deliver Joseph, Peter, and Paul from harm’s way and He will deliver us as well Acts 7:9-10; 12:11; 2 Cor 11:23ff; 2 Tim 4:7-8. He also delivers us from temptation 2 Pet 2:9 and controls the severity of the temptation 1 Cor 10:13.  On and on we can see how our God is committed to us. Since God is so committed to us, why is it that many do not reciprocate the action? Consider the godly men of the Bible. They were genuinely devoted to God and His will. Can we imagine the apostle Paul without this commitment? On one occasion he was stoned and left for dead Acts 14:19. Most of us would have taken our leave and said, “Forget this, let somebody else do it!”  Not the apostle Paul.  God wants whole-hearted commitment for His children.

    We can avoid procrastination by being prepared. The parable found in Matt 25:1-13 relates the story of 10 virgins who were to take their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish while the other five were wise. All were made aware of the bridegrooms coming, all new what had to be done. Yet five came prepared and five did not. Five were able to enter the wedding (the wise) while the remaining five (the foolish) were not allowed to enter. We can only be rewarded when we prepare ourselves for the moment. God expects us to be prepared. The Bereans mentioned in Acts 17:11 were noble-minded individuals because they examined the Scriptures daily. They didn’t wait till the next day to find the answer they searched then and there. It is up to us to be prepared. 2 Tim 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Preparation comes through the study of God’s Word. We do not know when Christ will come again. The announcement has been made we need to prepare for that moment and not put it off.  Neglect can cause the loss of our souls Heb 2:2-3.

    We have mentioned commitment and preparation but without exhortation these qualities are difficult to maintain. The Hebrew author says, “but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” Heb 3:13. As Christians we are fellow members of the body of Christ and need to exhort one another to study, to place God first in our lives and seek His kingdom and righteousness first Matt 6:33. Paul also tells us to do this in 1 Thess 5:11. This occurs in a variety of ways. First and foremost it occurs when we attend all the times the Lord’s people gather to worship God or study His Word. Heb 10:25. It also occurs when we demonstrate hospitality toward one another. Paul lists among other attributes we are to have in Rom 12:9ff hospitality.  When was the last time you invited someone over to your house? Don’t ask, when am I going to be invited?  The command is for you to be hospitable not the other way around.  This brings us to the effect of attending services and being hospitable, that is, association.  When we associate with like-minded individuals we encourage one another.  Whether it is at worship services, at someone’s house, we support one another to do the right thing.  Sin is deceptive and we need to help and encourage one another to overcome sin and live a godly life.

   Don’t procrastinate; life is too short to neglect so great a salvation.

Carlos Aguilar

Home and Family:  

Teaching A Child To Work

   A mother who is a Christian in describing how her children are encouraged to work said: "Today the five and seven year olds at our house picked peas. The ten year old gathered green beans, while the fourteen year old pushed the cultivator up and down the rows of our beautiful garden. We picked two golden squash, our first cucumber, and two dozen beets, then all had a part in the preparation, and in the enjoyment of the first meal from our garden. This is an ideal arrangement in which our family can work together." This mother had the right idea. In our crowded cities and with our economy of specialization, the family as a unit at work is seldom possible. Because of this, we as parents must manufacture tasks. We must find ways of giving our children the joy of accomplishment, of seeing the fruits of their own labors, and of gaining confidence in themselves.

   The Jewish nation insisted that each child be taught a trade as well as a profession, to use his hands as well as his mind. Jesus said, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" John 5:17. In following his perfect example, we will all be at work. Paul told the Thessalonians, "if any would not work, neither should he eat" II Thessalonians 3:10. If we as parents apply this precept in the training of our children, we will see that they learn to work. The child who does not learn to work will never make a success in life.

   We all recognize the desirability of training our children in the work habit, but the question is, "How can I?" First by example. The parent's attitude toward work will in a large part be the attitude of the child. Do I find every excuse for shirking my responsibility, whether it is working at home, or even a day's work at the church building? Let us first strive to do what our hands find to do with a song in our hearts, and the children will follow the example set for them.

   However, it is not always possible to find happiness in our work, as children or as adults. Some things just have to be done. The habit of seeing a job through to its completion is extremely valuable to a child. This is a real challenge to parents. Can I be patient and firm in seeing that he finishes a job, when it is so much easier to do it myself, and it takes half the time? We must, of course, plan tasks suitable to the child's level of maturity. Praise should be given only for a job completed and done well.

   You have heard it said, "Don't do for a child what he can do for himself." The very small child can do such simple tasks as picking up toys and dusting low furniture. As the child becomes older, we might change this saying into, "Don't do for yourself what your child can do for you." The old lady who allows the boy scout to help her across the street is giving the boy much more than he gives her, for she gives him the feeling of being big and strong and of use in the world. The feeling of being needed, of being a necessary part of the activities of the home, and later of the community and of the church, will make for good citizenship. It will prepare your child for great service in the Kingdom.

   Let us pray for guidance and strength that our children may become worthy laborers in God's vineyard.

~The Bible Research Library

Mean Moms
Author Unknown

We had the meanest mother in the whole world!

While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast.  When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them. She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds.

Then, life was really tough! Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them.

While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16. 

Because of our mother we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced.  None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property, or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault.

Now that we have left home, we are all God-fearing, educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was. I think that's what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough mean moms anymore.

www.freebibletracts.com

You should know that—

  This church--

Exists today in your community

Is not a denomination, just Christ's church.

  Still follows the New Testament pattern.

Is free from the dictates of human authority.

You can be a part of the church that belongs to Jesus Christ.  You can be just a Christian--nothing more or less!  We encourage you to search the Scriptures with an honest, loving and obedient heart.  Remember Jesus' words, "If you love me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15).

Jesus Himself was the perfect example of submitting to the will of the Heavenly Father: ". . .though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.  And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him"  (Hebrews 5:8-9).  He suffered for you because He loves you--will you follow Him?                        

~exerpted from pearlstreet.org

~RDT,sr