Fatal Procrastination

“Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.” (Proverbs 3:28)

God expects His children to act neighborly, pay our debts, give wages to those who have earned them, provide for our families, to show love and kindness toward the less fortunate. He entrusts believers in His Son with blessings to be shared, not hoarded—wealth, spiritual knowledge, whatever they may be. Some people receive more than others; only God knows how each person will handle their blessings. If God stirs your heart to assist someone in need or just bless someone and you delay in acting, your procrastination can be fatal to the spirit of giving. No matter how reasonable the excuse, putting off until tomorrow what you should do today is disobedience. Besides, none of us knows what tomorrow holds: busyness happens, and the scurry of the day delays meeting the need. God doesn’t promise us a tomorrow; the opportunity for obedience may expire. We should “owe no man anything” but love (Romans 13:8).

God’s Word is clear that we are not to withhold good from “those to whom it is due” (does not apply to the lazy or irresponsible) when we have the health, resources, and time to help (v. 27). Whatever form or abundance of blessing God lavished, He expects us to be faithful stewards of His investment. If He has blessed you with much, God expects much from you (Luke 12:48). “Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). If you don’t act when you know you should, you have sinned.