Published by admin on 14 Nov 2008 at 05:37 pm
I NEVER GOT AROUND TO IT
How many times have you heard “I never got around to it” when you asked if a certain thing got done? For me, it’s been more times than I can remember. And no wonder, because it seems time is speeding up these days, and it’s harder to get things done. Add to that the problem that many just seem to lack the focus to carry things through to completion. Most people are pretty good at starting a project, but have difficulty following through. You can verify this by driving down country roads some afternoon and counting the number of unfinished repairs on cars, houses, unfinished landscaping projects and the like. Sadly, the majority of New Year resolutions are doomed to failure by January second. Of course, there is the segment of people who just plain can’t even commit to start a project, let alone complete it.
I see many people commit to help with church or ministry projects, who, at the time are convinced they have the time and resources to see their commitment through. But a few days or weeks later, those same people are nowhere to be found. I remember once several years ago a young man called our ministry to commit to give us a thousand dollars over the period of a year. When I called him back, the Holy Spirit told me he would not follow through, and guess what? He didn’t. The intention was there, but the commitment was not. And there is a huge difference between intent and commitment. The Lord Jesus spoke of this in Luke 14:28-30; For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Too many times in a moment of high emotions, we commit to do something for the Lord, such as pray two hours every day, or read so many chapters of the Bible a day. But a few days later, the cares of life return to take over, and the commitment takes a back seat to the circumstances at hand, and before long, it’s back to business as usual. What started out as a holy promise to God is not being honored, and it becomes displeasing to the Lord. It is written in Ecclesiastes 5:6, Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
This is NOT the stuff I normally write about, so I know the Lord wants to apply correction to those who suffer from that particular condition. When the Lord wakes you in the wee hours of the night with the urge to pray, is your level of commitment to the Lord sufficient to propel you from your warm bed to your knees? Or do you wake up in the morning, remembering the wake up call, and know you should have prayed, but instead have to admit, I never got around to it?
Every Christian knows they are supposed to represent Jesus on this earth. Of course, there are many ways to do so. It may be a kind word to someone who is depressed, or an actual helping hand or two giving service to someone in need. How about when someone asks you to pray for them? When is the best time to do so? Immediately, if not sooner. For why would you want to see that person later and have them ask you if you prayed for them, only to have to say, I never got around to it. We all know how easy it is to tell someone we will pray for them, only to forget later. That’s why if someone asks me to pray, I do it RIGHT THEN! It doesn’t matter to me if we are in a store surrounded by people, or whatever we’re doing. Follow-through is more important than good intentions.
If you are reading this and it happens you are not saved, you might think in your heart, this would be a good time to finally get my life right with Jesus. That’s a step in the right direction. But don’t stop there. Good intentions never got anyone saved. In fact, delay can be very costly, as the devil has a knack for showing up and talking people out of following God. Perhaps you were close to the Lord once upon a time, but have drifted away. Oh, I know it wasn’t done purposely, but things just happened along the path of life, and one day you noticed the fire had gone out that you once had for the Lord. You aren’t the first person to experience that, nor will you be the last. The important thing, once you recognize the problem, right then is the time to remedy it.
There may have been a time you told the Lord you would spend more time with Him, and you truly meant it. But, life happens at very high speed, and before you knew it, you found yourself overcommitted and unable to deliver what you promised. What then should you do? In reality, you are faced with two choices; stay on the path you are presently on, and hope a time slot for the Lord will open up in the future, or, lay your entire schedule on the chopping block with hatchet in hand. The second option is better, but much more difficult.
We all have the ability to find time for the things we really want to do, when it gets down to it.
People don’t end up at their lake house every weekend in the summer to go boating and swimming without committing time to do it, because time not committed is taken by “stuff that comes up”. Some of us need to learn to say “NO” to things people want us to do. We each have 24 hours in our day. If you are too busy to spend time with God, then chances are, your schedule is full of things that someone has asked you to do that they don’t want to waste THEIR time doing…..that’s a word for free for someone….
You might be amazed at the number of things you could cut from your daily schedule and the world would not come to an end without you doing them. I’m not talking about quitting your day job. But what if you took careful inventory of your time spent with God, versus time spent on less important things, and found something was badly out of balance in your life? Would you have the intestinal fortitude to make some changes?
Or, will you one day stand before the Lord Jesus and say, Lord, you know my heart, you know I really meant to spend more time with you, I really did. But you know how busy I was with family, work, and all. I was just never able to get around to it. But my name is written in your Book of Life, right?
Will He say to you, I never got around to it.?
vincent on 14 Nov 2008 at 7:28 pm #
Rev Jerry,
I do pray, I do try to be a good christian and take care of my responsibilities to Michelle, my wife, to my daughter Ashley that I don’t see anymore thru child support, and I do pray for Ashley and her mom, my ex Eileen.
I have helped people all of my life, but when it comes to help that I need in finances, I get nothing. truthfully, it hurts, but it won’t stop me from giving a mcdonalds hamburger t oa homeless person nor stop praying.
I will ask for your continued prayers in vindication of these false allegations, and for a job.
in Christ’s name
Vincent