Now that it is well into the school year, I have been reacquainted with my old friend procrastination. He always likes to visit around midterms and project due dates. In fact, I ran into him last week when I had two tests to study for back-to-back.
While I often enjoy my time with procrastination (mainly watching YouTube shorts), I also become stressed as work begins to pile up. Instead of trying to complete my work in a timely manner, I wait until the week it is due (sometimes the night before). The days leading up to due dates are filled with constant worry and anxiety that could have easily been avoided if I just picked up my textbook sooner rather than later.
The Bible makes it abundantly clear what our work ethic should look like in Proverbs 6:6-11 (KJV):
Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt though sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
This proverb carries such a universal and practical concept that even Aesop’s Fables repeats the lesson in the story of the Ant and the Grasshopper. The grasshopper played all summer long, neglecting to prepare for the coming winter despite the ant’s warning. When winter hit, he was left starving and asking the ant for help. In most versions of the story, the ant tells the grasshopper to leave and accept the consequences of the path he chose. In more child-centered stories, the ant has mercy of the grasshopper after he learns his lesson and allows him some food.
Just like the disaster of the grasshopper failing to prepare, Proverbs 24:32-34 states,
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Procrastinating usually leads to more negative outcomes than positive ones. Everything might work out in the end, but that streak of luck will not last. The more you procrastinate, the more likely you are not going to be prepared for any responsibility that you have committed yourself to.
It does not matter if you are in high school, college, or the work force, whatever time we are allowed should be seized; because sooner rather than later, that time will run out. As told in Ephesians 5:15-16, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
If there is an allotted amount of time to complete a task, it is best to start as soon as we can. When we are prepared, we become more confident in our work and ourselves and are more likely to present better work than if we waited until the last minute.
We also need to consider that we do not work just for ourselves. Colossians 3:23-24 says,
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
We need to work for the Lord more than for ourselves. It’s not okay to procrastinate for ourselves, but we especially do not ever need to consider procrastinating for our Lord. For the best, we need to honor the Lord and ourselves by getting off our phones and getting to work right now.
