Title Slide: The Perils of Postponement…

The Perils of Postponement We all battle the problem of procrastination. Some things ought to be postponed (not all things are of equal value and urgency). It is unwise, hurtful, and even sinful to postpone other things. The Perils of Postponement… We all battle the problem of procrastination—putting off until tomorrow what we can do today. Some things ought to be postponed. (Not all things are of equal value and urgency.) Sometimes, we need to make choices about the priority of certain things. It is unwise, hurtful, and even sinful to postpone other things. Why? We need to understand the importance of certain things and give them more serious consideration.

Felix—(Acts 24:1-27) Acts 24:24 “And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.” Felix (Acts 24:1-27). Paul was under arrest and had been sent to the governor, Felix. On a given day, he was permitted to appear before Felix to face his accusers. Paul received permission to speak and defend himself. The case was put on hold until the commander, Lysias, could come and give his testimony. Paul was allowed to have friends visit him. After some days, Felix and his wife, Drusilla, sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith he preached. How did they respond…

Felix—(Acts 24:1-27) Acts 24:25 “Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’” Felix (Acts 24:1-27). We see Felix’s response in verse 25. Felix understood the truth Paul preached, and he trembled and was afraid, knowing judgment was coming and he was unprepared. So what decision did he make? Wait until a “more convenient time.” Felix knew what he needed to do—he simply postponed doing it.

The Perils of Postponement “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” {Proverbs 27:1} The Perils of Postponement: Prov.27:1… Nobody knows what a new day will bring—or whether that day will come. Each new day is a gift from God—to use in His honor and glory and prepare our souls for the day when we will be called away…

The Perils of Postponement “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit… {James 4:13} The Perils of Postponement: Jam. 4:13… Making plans is well and good. Yet, we must remember that those plans will never be fulfilled unless God grants us another day of life…

The Perils of Postponement “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. … {James 4:14} The Perils of Postponement: Jam. 4:14… James gave an excellent illustration of the brevity of our life. Place a tea kettle on the stove. When it begins to boil, look at the steam that comes out of the spout—that is your life! When the heat goes away, the vapor is gone. Life is temporal and fleeting. It can end in less than a second…

The Perils of Postponement “Instead you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” {James 4:15,16} The Perils of Postponement: Jam. 4:15,16… James correctly tells us that any planning that doesn’t take God’s will into consideration is foolish planning indeed! We don’t control the time; God does. It’s always on His side--not ours.

The Perils of Postponement “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” {James 4:17} The Perils of Postponement: Jam. 4:17… James reminded us that it is right to make proper preparation for spiritual and eternal things. Failure to do so is sinful and places one’s soul in a risky position if the Lord should return, or his life ends.

The Perils of Postponement Demonstrates: Arrogance – “Do not boast” (Proverbs 27:1). “Now you boast in your arrogance” (James 4:15). Ignorance – You do not know (Proverbs 27:1; James 4:14) Rebellion – Is evil, knows to do good . . . (James 4:16,17; 1 Sam 15). Never Put Off Till Tomorrow What You Ought To Do Today! Demonstrates: Arrogance (Prov.27:1; Jam.4:15). Such an attitude considers self more than God. Remember who is in control—God! Ignorance (Prov.27:1; Jam.4:14). What you don’t know might destroy your soul. Maybe we need to learn who really is in control… Rebellion (1 Sam.15; Jam.4:16,17). What benefit is it to know what is right and that judgment is coming if we do nothing to prepare? Can it be anything but rebellion?

The Perils of Postponement You Lose Today – Influence on children, loved ones, etc. Our own spiritual growth, joy, peace, etc.) A Hardened Heart – Building bad habits makes us less receptive to truth (Heb. 3:15; 4:7; Matt. 13:13-23) Danger of Sudden Death – (James 4:14; Job 14:1,2; Luke 12:13-21) The Lord’s Return (1 Thess. 5:2-4; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 3:3; 16:15) Procrastination… You Lose Today. The circumstances of our lives can cause us to lose many things along the way—influence on children, loved ones, etc. Our spiritual growth, joy, and peace of mind. Satan will use this to destroy us. A Hard Heart—the longer one fights against God, the easier it becomes. The heart become cold and hard, and it can no longer be penetrated by God’s word. (Heb.3:15; 4;7; Matt.13:13-23; 1 Tim.4:2) Danger of Sudden Death—the danger of suddenly passing from this life should cause us to pause (Jam.4:14; Job 14:1,2; Lk.12:13-21) The Return of the Lord—2 Thess.5:2-4; 2 Pet.3:10; Rev.3:3; 16:15. The Lord will return unexpectedly; we need to prepare.

The Perils of Postponement Learning the Truth (Eph 5:17; Psa. 119:27; Pr. 23:23) Obeying the Gospel (2 Thess. 1:7-9; 2 Cor. 6:2) Making Provisions to Grow Spiritually – Bible reading, Bible classes, regular attendance, etc. (2 Pet. 1:5-12; 2:1) Talking to Others About the Gospel When Opportunities Come (Acts 8:4; James 4:17) Using Opportunities to Edify Others (Heb 3:13; 10:24,25) Some Things You Cannot Afford to Postpone Put in the Big Rocks First One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes." Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" "No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?" One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!" "No," the speaker replied, "That's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all." What are the 'big rocks' in your life? Your children; Your loved ones; Your education; Your dreams; A worthy cause; Teaching or mentoring others; Doing things that you love; Time for yourself; Your health; Your significant other? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all. If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your life with little things you worry about that don't really matter, and you'll never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks). So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first." Posted by Stephen C. Ehrmann to the POD listserv, August 21, 2000, Ehrmann@tltgroup.org TLC 11/00

Put the Big Rocks in First One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?..." Put the Big Rocks in First…

Put the Big Rocks in First Everyone in the class said, ‘Yes.’ Then he said, ‘Really?’ He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, ‘Is the jar full?’ By this time the class was on to him. ‘Probably not,’ one of them answered. ‘Good!’ he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, ‘Is this jar full?...’ Put in the Big Rocks First…

Put the Big Rocks in First ‘No!’ the class shouted. Once again he said, ‘Good.’ Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, ‘What is the point of this illustration?’ One eager beaver raised his hand and said, ‘The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!’ ‘No,’ the speaker replied, ‘That's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all…’” Put in the Big Rocks First…

Put the Big Rocks in First What are the 'big rocks' in your life? Your children; Your loved ones; Your education; Your dreams; A worthy cause; Teaching or mentoring others; Doing things that you love; Time for yourself; Your health; Your significant other? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all. If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your life with little things you worry about that don't really matter, and you'll never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks). So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first." Put in the Big Rocks First…Posted by Stephen C. Ehrmann to the POD listserv, August 21, 2000, Ehrmann@tltgroup.org TLC 11/00

Postponement The Perils of Concluding Thoughts…The Perils of Postponement…Summary and Invitation… The Perils of Postponement