“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” - John Wesley
It's unwise to presume on the future.
The person who says with certainty that they'll do this or that "later," is counting on having the opportunity "then," that's staring them in the face "now." It makes good sense to plan for tomorrow today, but there's a problem with thinking we can always do later the good we can do now.
Why?
Because tomorrow is not today. We will be different tomorrow. Our circumstances will be different tomorrow.
Pretentious assumption makes it easy to say, "Not right now." And rejecting every opportunity with a bold, "Not right now," produces about the same results as standing on the "DOWN" escalator while assuming you'll soon arrive on the next floor "UP."
How curious.
Which part of your life makes you think doing nothing adds value or improves your situation? Doing good requires effort. "DOWN" is done by doing nothing. "UP" demands work and intention. It's so easy to move "DOWN" that you can degrade your future without moving at all.
Want to ruin your life?
Simply do nothing and you can watch your life spiral into the Abyss.
The downward cycle of life in a society without diligence is grim, as is life in a culture that tolerates disrespectful procrastination. Diligence is virtuous; apathetic indolence is not. Adding value while you can is virtuous; refusing to help, when you know what you ought to do to help, is sin.
No more evil boasting about our pretentious plans for tomorrow! We must discipline ourselves for timely action, described by Paul as "being instant" or "being ready at all times, whether it is convenient or inconvenient."
Too much is at stake to presume on the future.
Today is the day to do what we know ought to be done.
James 4:14 - How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Comments