Don’t settle for less, #06: Don’t procrastinate

Don't procrastinate.  It’s the sixth in a series of traits for successful people in the secular world that we’re looking at.  However, we’re also seeing how these same traits can be applied to becoming a “successful” Christian.  Someone who not only has an idea what Christianity is really about, but who also lives it.  Finally, who also does the Great Commission and not what Dallas Willard calls the Great Omission. Don’t settle for less, #06: Don't procrastinate is article #8 in the series: Settling for less. Click button to view titles for entire series With that in mind, here’s the sixth, from 23 Things Successful People Never Do on bestlifeonline.com:

Let's be honest, we all procrastinate every now and then, whether it's about that pile of laundry you keep putting off or that résumé you keep saying you'll update, but never do. Successful people have learned how to overcome the habit of putting off what's most important. They get a rush not from the relief they feel by delaying something to another day, but by pushing forward, getting the task done that they said they'd do, and checking it off their list.

"If there's something that needs to get done, it's imperative to meet your deadline," urges Dinneen. "Putting off a difficult or unpleasant task only wastes precious time and can lead you to worrying about it for way longer than you need to."

Don't put off what's important

If you've read Don’t settle for less, #05, that should sound familiar.  It was called Don't wait until you're ready. Even the part about If there's something that needs to get done, it's imperative to meet your deadline was discussed.  There's a difference between what that means to a Christian as opposed to someone in the secular world though.  We looked at that as well in #05.  It said we should wait for God.  So the deadline isn't ours, it's God's.  Everything in His time. Here's an excerpt from Psalm 37 on that thought.

Psalm 37

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Ps 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

Ps 37:6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Ps 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Ps 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Ps 37:9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Ps 37:10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

Ps 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.

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The key, of course, is Ps 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;.  The verses cover the context and the reasoning behind what David wrote.

What about Don't procrastinate?

Everything above is great for waiting on the Lord.  But what about not procrastinating?  In other words, what about not waiting past the time when God's ready?  Past the time when the Holy Spirit's trying to get your attention and is saying - "go - now"? The secular reasoning here doesn't really work for a Christian doing God's work. Putting off a difficult or unpleasant task only wastes precious time and can lead you to worrying about it for way longer than you need to. While the task may seem unpleasant at first, it will lead to joy, if we do it while walking with God.  Maybe that's hard to believe if you haven't tried it yet.  But as Christians, we need to remember what Jesus told us.

The Vine and the Branches

Jn 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.