Procrastination can steal our opportunities
"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived … And the door was shut."
-- Matthew 25:10 (NIV)
For that past three weeks, there has been something I have been meaning to do. However, I find myself putting it off.
Although I am not usually one to put things off, I find myself dragging my feet as the old saying goes. I'm even asking myself, "Why am I procrastinating about this?"
Have you found yourself putting something off until a later time? It happens to all of us from time to time. It may be something as small a task as emptying the trash can. But even a small delay eventually causes a stink.
Procrastination is like a thief in the night. It creeps up on us unexpectedly and steals something away from us. Holding off until a later time may cause us to miss, lose or delay an important opportunity.
In the biblical account in Matthew 25, Jesus warns us of missed opportunities from putting something off. There were 10 women who were warned to prepare for the bridegroom. By trimming the wick on their lamps and keeping them filled with oil, they would be prepared to watch for him in case he arrived during the night.
Five of the women were wise and promptly did as they were instructed. The other five were foolish as they put off doing today what they felt could be done tomorrow instead. They procrastinated when it came to buying the oil for their lamps. When they finally got the oil, they missed out on going with their bridegroom because he arrived while they had gone to prepare. The door was shut tight for the opportunity to ever take place.
The devil uses temptations such as procrastination to steal God-given opportunities from us. He convinces us that putting things off until tomorrow won't matter. But what we do today does matter.
When temptations come to push something important aside, we need to remember the old saying: "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today."
• Annettee Budzban's new book "Spend a Moment with God" can be ordered through bookstores or online bookstores, or by calling the toll free number (877) 289-2665.