I don’t like to think I’m lazy. I mean, I don’t want to be. Yet, I seem to constantly battle it. Except when I don’t. On those days Laziness and I kick back and relax—like old friends. There are even weeks when we hang out for days at a time, going on adventures like watching TV, devouring a novel, or just sitting in my office reading the news.
I hate to think how many opportunities have slipped away while I delayed. That doesn’t mean there aren’t things I get done in a timely way. But they tend to be things I enjoy—like doing research, writing a book or my Blog, editing my son’s books or encouraging a friend. It’s the other list of chores I put off, things I dislike doing that have to be done. Or, things that require discipline, like cleaning out the storage room, ministry promotion and fund raising, or breaking a bad habit and replacing it with a good one.
I realize Jesus hung out with tax-collectors and sinners. And I know he felt at home with the abused and homeless as well as dishonest businessmen and women who sold their bodies. However, I can’t imagine Jesus hanging out with Procrastination. That’s one low-life Jesus kept at a safe distance.
Here’s one example. When Jesus healed the man born blind on a Sabbath, he stirred up a firestorm with the Pharisees. They accused him of breaking the “don’t work on Sabbath law.”
I’m sure Satan whispered in his ear, “Do it tomorrow. One day won’t matter to the blind man. Delay one day and you won’t anger the Pharisees.”
While that made sense, the Lord ignored the logic. Instead he seized the moment for the blind man, his family, and the kingdom of God.
Earlier when the disciples asked about the cause of the man’s blindness, Jesus said the man’s blindness occurred so “the works of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:3). The man’s blindness brought him to Jesus on that day and at that precise moment to show off the works of God. He didn’t schedule an appointment. Nor was the meeting a chance encounter. God planned it. Since Jesus knew there would never be another moment like it, he seized the moment and healed the blind man on that Sabbath.
This doesn’t mean Jesus never relaxed. He often got away to recharge his emotional and spiritual batteries. Yet, no matter how tired or how surrounded by distractions, he never put off until the next day what needed to be done right away. Nor did he delay difficult tasks and people because he had other, less important but more enjoyable things to do.
The night before his crucifixion Jesus told his Father, “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4).
Pause for a moment and consider that statement. It’s amazing, isn’t it? I’d like to be able to describe my life like that. In fact, I’d like to be able to describe tomorrow like that. Oops. I mean today.
Photo by Samuel Ramkalawan, CC
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