Last Minute

Have you ever waited until the last minute? I think there have been times when most of have waited until the last minute to do something. Maybe, it was an unpleasant task we really didn't want to complete. Maybe, the task overwhelmed us with its size. Sometimes, it is just shear laziness on our parts.

Many of us live our lives under the assumption that there isn't a dead line. We often think there is always tomorrow. We put off the things we deem less important or less urgent. We rationalize our decisions in such a way that we believe that are actually doing our duty, when, in fact, we are neglecting our God given duty.

The dogged pursuit of a paycheck is often fear masquerading familial responsibility. We have to eat, don't we. However, the Lord promises us that if we seek his righteousness and kingdom, then we will have what we need. But do we believe that promise? Does the Father truly love us more than the sparrow? Will he really provide? I am not saying that it is wrong to work hard. I believe that hard work is a Christian virtue, however workaholism is not. We need to review our motives. Are we working for the glory of God? Or our we driven by our own covetousness?

Many people plan on serving the Lord or growing in Christ, after they have all their ducks in a row. Many think: let me get married, let me get a good job, let me get a house, let me raise my kids, let me retire and then I can serve the Lord. The keep putting it off to the last minute. Thus, they allow the numerous opportunities meant to shape them in holiness and to strengthen their faith pass by without so much as lifting a finger. There is always tomorrow we think.

It's that kind of thinking that James seeks to confront. He warns his readers that such an attitude smacks of arrogance, because human life is "mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes" (James 4:14, see 4:13-17). We need to make the most of every moment. There is no time to wait until the last minute, because this minute may be it. For this reason, the authors of the Scriptures, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, compel us time and again to put of the deeds of the flesh and to put on Christ. There is no time like the present, for it is in the present that we must act.