February 13, 2000 Volume 1 Number 7

Putoffitis

    That looks like a hard word, right? It's what we might call "a big word," right? Well, look at it again. It's just two little words and a suffix. It's put, off,  and itis. The Greek suffix itis is common vernacular in this age, especially when it relates to disease. Actually the meaning of it is "disease of." So we speak of tendon-itis, which is an inflation of a tendon, or eye-ritis, which is a disease associated with the eye.

   There is a common disease among Christians which I have chosen to call Putoffitis. It is the tendency to put things off, to wait until later, to procrastinate. The things involved are oft times things that are important and need immediate, sometimes urgent attention. Like lots of itises, it's something all of us suffer from time to time. Like many health problems, one of the best ways to combat this subtle but very pervasive disease is to be aware of its symptoms and catch it early.

 Symptoms of Putoffitis

    Poor concern for important things. If we are not careful, the insignificant, the irrelevant, the unimportant will slide in and take control of our thinking. The number of admonitions in the New Testament concerning this proclivity should serve to emphasize the constant need to be aware of its possibility. Paul said, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above...set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1). And "think on these things," he said, "true things, honorable things, just things, pure things, lovely things, and things of good report" (Philippians 4:8). In a stern warning, he also said that "to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:6). Most putting off is done because we prefer to think about the wrong things.

   Slow attention to opportunities. Favorable circumstances don't often repeat themselves; after they come, they are apt to disappear never to come around again. Further, opportunities don't hold their value very long. To put off grasping the occasion will often result in that occasion softening or not being as suitable as it once was. James says, "to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, it is sin" (James 4:17) One of the biggest excuses for losing opportunities is "I intended to." Intentions are often lost in Putoffitis.

   Selfishness. I tried to think of several ways to say that and it just came out selfishness. Most procrastination is based on a selfish choice regarding the use of our time. Oh, we believe in God and we acknowledge Christ as Lord, we just don't have time do what needs to be done--at least not right now. Do you know anyone who doesn't intend to get right with God eventually? This kind of selfishness caused the demise of the rich man (Luke 16). And James warns, "Go to now, ye that say tomorrow we will go into such a city" for, says he, "ye know not what shall be on the morrow."

   We suffer from Putoffitis when we put off things. What if there is no tomorrow? What then?

 Remedies For Putoffitis

    Develop the habit of beginning today. There is no command of God on which you cannot begin today--right now, in fact. Name one. There is no reason for delay. Let us "exhort one another daily, while it is called today" Hebrews. 3:13). It's late, folks. We best be about doing what we can while we can.

    Don't listen to the Devil. The Devil is the fomenter of Putoffitis, he is its chief mentor, its strongest advocate. He's so sneaky! You see, he doesn't really care how strongly you believe, or how much you love God, or how firmly attached you are to the word of God. If he can just get you to put off doing anything about those things, he can accomplish the same ends he would have had he caused you not to believe. Just be ready (Ephesians 6:11) when he comes around.

   Keep your eyes on the goal. When you can see a possible victory, you don't stop and gaze around about it, you press toward it. Discouragement, on the other hand, will cause the goal to be hazy, far away, distorted; and that will cause you to lose interest and veer off the path. Paul said, "I press toward the mark" (Philippians 3:14). Pressing is hard; but the goal is worth it. Keeping your head up when things are hard is not easy; but the reward for having done it makes it worth it.

   Stay around those who are doing something. If you hang out with folks that suffer from Putoffitis, chances are you will suffer from the same malady (1 Corinthians 15:33). But if you hang around with enthusiasm, you'll be enthusiastic. If you associate with fervor, your heart will burn too. If you run alongside motivation, you can't help but want to finish too. It's just a good thing to be with those who are doing things and be separated from those who are not.

Dee Bowman ~In Gospel Power, ‘97.

Home and Family:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS

       While the Bible does not go into detail outlining exactly how each parent child problem ;Is dealt with, it does offer general guidelines that enable one to find through their application the right direction.

   One such guideline is suggested in Luke 2:51, a direct statement of the condition existing in the family of Jesus Christ. The passage reads, "And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and he was subject to them". The "he" in the passage was Jesus and the "them" was Mary and Joseph. The broad principle illustrated in this passage teaches that parents are given by God the authority to direct, guide, teach and discipline their children. If the son of God accepted the authority of earthly parents how much more ought the sons and daughters of men be under the authority of their parents.

   The next principle illustrated by this statement in Luke shows that children are to accept their direction and to be subject to their parents.

   To provide that direction for their children, parents must take the job of being parents seriously. Being a parent is much more than fulfilling a biological function. It means being concerned about every aspect of the child's growth and development. It means caring where the child is and who his friends are. It means knowing his interests and encouraging right and proper ones and discouraging - even forbidding - those that are inappropriate or dangerous. For a parent to say "I can't do anything with my child" is an admission of "I don't know how to be a parent".

   Again, the Bible speaks of this problem. In Ephesians 6:1-4, the Bible talks of children's responsibilities and fathers' responsibilities. Although the Bible in this passage mentions only father, the spirit of the text implies the work of mother, too. First these verses say, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right". Then the passage continues, "And you fathers provoke not your children to wrath, but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord". The children are called upon to be obedient to the parents. This is not license for cruel or inhuman treatment by parents, for the Bible adds the qualifying phrase, "In the Lord". Children have the right to expect reasonable direction and guidance from their parents, and the parents are called upon to nurture their children. That is, to rear them, to bring them up, in the "chastening and admonition of the Lord". That final phrase means that the parents are to imitate God as much as possible in the admonishing or urging given to the children, and also to imitate God in punishing when such becomes necessary. It is chastening or punishing based upon love, not revenge; upon caring, not indifference; upon betterment, not defeat.

   Let me suggest these simple rules in assuming the responsibility of being a parent. First, pray often for understanding, patience and skill. Secondly, treat your child as a human being who deserves respect and authority. Thirdly, apply the golden rule of the Bible, which we so often simplify as "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Fourthly, don't wait until tomorrow to start! Start yesterday. I mean by that, don't be afraid to admit that something done in the past was wrong. When you've been wrong, admit it and show that you want to do better.

   Finally, the children we train today will be the parents of tomorrow. We must do-better than just teach them all the things they will determine never to do when they are parents. In Colossians 3:21, the writer said (again to the fathers), "Provoke not your children that they be not discouraged”.

from The Bible Research Library

GOD'S ANSWERS

You say: "It's impossible" God says: All things are possible - Luke 18:27

You say: "I'm too tired" God says: I will give you rest - Matthew 11:28-30

You say: "Nobody really loves me" God says: I love you - John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; John 13:34

You say: "I can't go on" God says: My grace is sufficient - 2 Corinthians 12:9

You say: "I can't figure things out" God says: I will direct your steps - Proverbs 3:5-6

You say: "I can't do it" God says: You can do all things - Philippians 4:13

You say: "I'm not able" God says: I am able - 2 Corinthians 9:8

You say: "It's not worth it" God says: It will all be worth it - Roman 8:28

You say: "I can't forgive myself" God says: I forgive you - Acts 2:37-38; 8:22-24; I John 1:9

You say: "I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs - Philippians 4:19

You say: "I'm afraid" God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear - 2 Timothy 1:7

You say: "I'm worried and frustrated" God says: Cast all your cares on Me - 1 Peter 5:7

You say: "I don't have enough faith" God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith - Romans 12:3

You say: "I'm not smart enough" God says: I give you wisdom - 1 Corinthians 1:30

You say: "I feel all alone" (in this world of sin & error) God says: I will never leave you or forsake you - Hebrews 13:5-6

Conclusion: Jer. 32:27, 17 - Nothing is too hard for God!  

TEN RULES KIDS WON'T LEARN IN SCHOOL
(And What God Says About It)

1. Life is not fair. Get use to it. The average teen-ager uses the phrase "It's not fair" 86 times a day. -Ecclesiastes 9:11

2. The real world won't care as much about your self-esteem as your school does. This may come as a shock. -Luke 9:23; 1 Pet. 5: 6-7

3. Sorry, you won't make $40,000.00 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a designer label. -Prov. 13:4; Lk. 10: 7; 1 Thess. 4:11-12

4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. -Ephesians 6:5-8

5. Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity. -Colossians 3:22-25

6. It's not your parents' fault if you mess up. You're responsible. This is the flip side of "It's my life" and "You're not my boss." -Proverbs 10:4-5; Galatians 6:4-5

7. Before you were born, your parents weren't boring. They got that way paying your bills and listening to you. -Ephesians 6:1-2

8. Life is not divided into semesters. And you don't get summers off. Not even spring break. You are expected to show up every day for eight hours, and you don't get a new life every 10 weeks. -Ecclesiastes 9:10

9. Smoking does not make you look cool. Watch an 11-year-old with a butt in his mouth. That's the way you look like to anyone over 20. -1 Corinthians 6:19-21; 9:25

10. Your school may be "outcome based", but life isn't. In some schools, you're given as many times as you want to get the answer right. Standards are set low enough so everyone can meet them. This of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life as you will find out. -Proverbs 6:6-11

Good Luck. You are going to need it. And the harder you work, the luckier you will get. -Prov. 20:13; 24:30-34

                                                 Joe R. Price in “The Spirit’s Sword”  

You should know that--

 God is the giver of life (Acts 17:25)

 God is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17) 

 God has expressed His love toward us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 3:16)

 Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

 Jesus will wash you from your sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5) - -when you are baptized (Acts 22:16)                     

                             ~excerpted from pearlstreet.org

We hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study.

2 Sam 22:31
 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. NKJV

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