Mensa Otabil - No Procrastination
- Watch
- Donate
John chapter 4, verse 35: «Do you not say there are still four months until the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.» Don’t procrastinate. That’s what Jesus is telling His disciples. He’s telling them you say that the harvest is coming in four months. Then lift up your eyes; the harvest is ready.
Procrastination is the thief of time, and one of the things each one of us must guard against this year is the idea or tendency to push things into the future. We postpone things-"Oh, I’ll do it tomorrow, I’ll do it next week, I’ll do it next month,» and pretty soon you realize the year is coming to an end, and things you could have done in January you’re now rushing to do in December. So don’t postpone till tomorrow the things you can do today. If you can do it today, don’t do it tomorrow. If you have to make the call today, don’t say, «I’ll make it later.» If you have to read that book today, don’t say, «I’ll read it later.»
If you have to register for that course today, don’t say, «I’ll do it later.» Once you have the opportunity today, you must seize it. Many times we miss great opportunities in life not because God never opened the door, but because He opened the door, and we were not ready. We said, «Oh, maybe,» and we thought the door would be open forever. Sometimes we forget that every opportunity has an expiry date. Every door God opens for you has an expiry date; you cannot have that opportunity forever.
Opportunities I had when I was six years old I don’t have now. Opportunities I had when I was 21 years old I don’t have now. Opportunities I had when I was 50 years old I don’t have now. As you grow, you realize that some things you could have done at a certain point in your life, you may never get the chance to do again because opportunities are time-bound. So this year, God is going to give you a lot of opportunities. Don’t postpone them. Don’t postpone your actions; don’t postpone your commitment. You have to be bold, step out, and do the things that you must do.
Many times we postpone opportunities and procrastinate because we’re looking at what everybody is doing. We’re running our race according to everybody else’s race, and people are lazy and laid back. We say, «Okay, let me also be lazy and laid back.» You’re not running their race; they’re not running your race. You are the one God has given the opportunity to open the door. Enter in and do what you have to do. That’s what Jesus is telling us to do. Remember, the year is still young, but it’s eight days since 2022 started. Just think of it-eight days have passed, and pretty soon it will be 20 days, then half of the year, and then we’re singing Christmas carols. The year is coming to an end.
So seize the moment; don’t procrastinate. Be courageous, be bold. When God gives you an opportunity, He knows He has prepared you for it. He knows that you can enter into it; He knows you have the capacity for it. That’s why He gave you that opportunity. God has confidence in you; you better have confidence in yourself and get up and go to work. For some of you right at this time, there are things you have to do. Those of you who want to lose weight, it’s time to start exercising and managing your meals. Those of you who want to be more spiritual, it’s time to start reading the Bible more seriously and praying. Those of you who want to make money, it’s time to start financial planning, saving, and working towards your financial goals.
Whatever it is you want to do, don’t wait, especially if you have the opportunity to do it now. I understand there are some things you cannot do now because they are not timed to be done at this point. You may have to do them maybe in February or later in the year, but everything that you can do now, don’t postpone it. Step out boldly to do the things that God wants you to do, and let’s make this year very successful because it’s a year of increase.
Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, help me to do the things I must do. Quicken me by Your Spirit to be firm in my actions. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.» I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.