I wonder how many today feel like the rabbit in Alice In Wonderland. With great franticness, he says:
I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date! No time to say “Hello”, goodbye!
I’m late! I’m late! I’m late! I’m late!
And, when I wave I lose the time I save. My fuzzy ears and whiskers took me too much time to shave. I run and then I hop, hop, hop. I wish that I could fly.
There’s danger if I dare to stop and here’s the reason why. You see I’m overdue, I’m in a rabbit stew
Can’t even say “Good-bye”, hello; I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no! I’m overdue! I’m really in a stew! No time to say “Goodbye”, hello!
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!1
Well, if that describes you, then today is your day. Today is National No Interruptions Day. Though many may not have known such a celebration existed, the premise of the day has been practiced for years. With the end of the year just hours away, there are things that need to be done to finalize the current year in preparation for a new year and some are scurrying around like the hectic, hurrying hare.
If you’ve waited until the last minute to get your office in order, book work finished, final inventories made, and end-of-the-year projects completed, congratulations. It doesn’t get any more last minute than this! Now, you scramble frantically. No need to check our Facebook status unless it is to update it to “IN-PANIC-MODE!” The auto-reply response is activated on our email accounts. The door goes unanswered as does the phone. The
Do-Not-Disturb sign is hung and strictly enforced.
If I just described you, may I ask as kindly as possible, “What in the world were you doing with the other 364 days this year?!?” I understand that financial things cannot be closed out until the year has closed. But there were things you could have done earlier in the year that would have only required the entry of ONE day’s worth of receipts rather than several months. You knew this day was coming. Why didn’t you prepare?
I know. This sounds like I’m being a bit judgy and condescending. I’m not trying to be. I just don’t understand perpetual procrastination. Personally, I want to coast out of 2024, enjoying it and celebrating with friends and family, rather than running the mad, frenzied dash of terror.
Nothing I write today will help today – but it could help you starting tomorrow. If we had a verse of Scripture that said, “Thou shalt not procrastinate,” it would be easier to say that this is a command of God and to procrastinate is sin. However, that’s not the case. Instead, we have to look at the whole of Scripture and come to some personal conclusions that procrastination isn’t in God’s ideal plan for us.
Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” We must redeem the time, making the most of every opportunity that avails itself. This is speaking specifically of our witness but the truth can be applied to all of our life. And what kind of a witness are we giving to others if we put off doing today what we can do tomorrow – or whenever we get around to it?
A great example of the procrastinator is seen in Proverbs 24:30-34. “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; (31) And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. (32) Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. (33) Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: (34) So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”
Tiffany Christensen, writing for Biblical Pathway, says, “ To diligently pursue your tasks is to honor the time and opportunities that God has bestowed upon you. Time management and productivity are essential in overcoming procrastination. By managing your time effectively and being productive, you can achieve more and avoid the trap of delaying important tasks. Self-discipline and consistency play a significant role in combating procrastination. When you develop a habit of self-discipline, you can overcome the tendency to procrastinate and stay focused on your goals.
“God has a purpose and a plan for your life, but it requires your active participation and obedience. Don’t let procrastination rob you of the abundant life God desires for you. Seize each moment, act with faithfulness, and trust that God’s timing is always perfect. May you 
be encouraged to step out in faith, knowing that God will guide your steps and bless your efforts abundantly.”2 That is sound advice!
If you are finishing out today and it’s just chaotic, wouldn’t you like next year at this time to be better and different? Then take some instructions from Solomon found in Ecclesiastes 9:10 and practice it every day in 2025.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
1https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/I%27m_Late
2https://biblicalpathway.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-procrastination/
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
