Procrastination: Causes, Effects, Solutions

(Go To Meeting)

Lindsay Stephens—December 20, 2024

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In this message today, I intend to deal with the subject that we have all had a problem with to some extent, to some degree or another in our lives, some more than others. I will deal with the subject in three segments:

• What causes procrastination?
• What are the effects of it?
• What are the solutions to the problem?

What is procrastination? Simply put, procrastination is when one keeps putting off what one, what should be done in the present to a future time!

It is a mindset. It is a condition of the mind that says, 'I'll do it tomorrow, I just don't feel like it right now.'

When we procrastinate, we are setting off the chain reaction of events that can negatively affect others, not just ourselves. God calls us to do good to one another. When we procrastinate, we are not doing good.

All of us have procrastinated in our lives to some degree. I'll just relate a bit of my own experience around the time I was being called. I knew about the Sabbath, Holy Days and identity of the English-speaking peoples for about five years before I finally began attending Sabbath services in the mid-1970s.

Why did it take that long to make the move when I knew that it was the right thing to do to obey God? Well, looking back at that stage in my life, there were several excuses that took precedence at the time!

There were some mental obstacles blocking me such as: what would my parents, relatives and friends think if I made such a move? So, it took some time to overcome this.

At this point, I will mention some of the causes of procrastination. What prevents people from doing what they should be doing? A few reasons or excuses can be brought out.

For example: there's connection between the fear of failure and procrastination. It means that the more anxiety we feel about failing to reach our goals, the less likely we are to take action towards achieving them.

One reason for procrastination is simply personal convenience! One example of this is in the book of Acts when the Apostle Paul was on trial before Antonius Felix, who was the fourth Roman procurator of Judea province from 52 to 60A.D.

So, in Acts 24:10-21, we see that Paul was on trial, and he had made up his defense of what he'd been accused of by the Sanhedrin. So, we pick up Felix's response in:

Acts 24:22: "And after hearing these things… [that's the accusations against him] …Felix having a more perfect knowledge of the things concerning the Way… [that's referring to the way of a Christian, the way of life] …put them off, saying, 'When Lysias, the chief captain, has come down, I will examine the things concerning you.'" So, he was going to look into it!

Verse 23: "And he ordered the centurion to keep Paul, to let him have liberty… [a certain amount of freedom] …and not to forbid those of his own to come to him or to minister to him. Now, after certain days, Felix appeared with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess…" (vs 23-24).

So, being a Jewess, she would have provided Felix with some background as to what the Jews believe.

"…and he sent for Paul and listened to him speak about the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned concerning righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became fearful and answered… [he had a conscience] …'You may go now, and when I find an opportunity, I will call for you.' Moreover, he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul… [he had an ulterior motive of bribery] …so that he might release Paul; for this reason, he sent for Paul and conversed with him more often" (vs 24-26).

So, Felix had every opportunity to make some changes, not only with Paul, but in his own life concerning the Way.

Verse 27: "But at the end of two years, Felix was succeeded as governor by Porcius Festus; and, desiring to gain favor for himself with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound."

When we come down to it, Felix wanted his reputation intact and did what was 'politically correct' to the Jews who practiced Judaism and were hostile to any preaching of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Savior.

Another reason for procrastination is based on the assumption that a person could always do tomorrow or on another day what should have been done today!

We can look at the book of Proverbs and there's going to be quite a lot of Scriptures out of Proverbs today.

Proverbs 27:1: "Do not boast yourself of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."

Time and chance happens in life: sickness, accidents, unforeseen circumstances can change the best intentions.

Verse 2: "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips."

It means not to 'sing your own praises' or 'blow your own trumpet!

Let's follow on with what James has to say on the same subject:

James 4:13: "Now listen, those of you who say, 'Today and tomorrow we will go into such a city, and we will spend a year, and we will conduct business and make a profit.' You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! For what is your life?…." (vs 13-14).

1-Peter 1:24—Peter says: "For all flesh is like grass, and all the glory of man is like the flower of the field; the grass has withered, and its flower has fallen away."

James 4:15: "Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills we will live, and we will do this or that.'"

We need to think of what God's purpose is for us to pray about it and to study His Word.

Verse 16: " But now you boast in your own arrogance, all such boasting is evil." Boasting is rejoicing in sin!

Verse 17: "Therefore, if anyone knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

So, procrastination could be a reason for thinking to do good some other time, but not now!

Laziness is another cause of procrastination. It might be easy to categorize laziness and procrastination as having the same meaning. However, procrastination involves delaying unnecessarily, whereas laziness means being reluctant to exert necessary effort.

So, it is possible to procrastinate even if one is not lazy and to be lazy and yet not procrastinate. They can also relate to one another.

Proverbs 26:13: "The lazy one says, 'There is a lion in the way; yea a lion is in the streets.' As the door turns upon its hinges, so does the lazy man turn upon his bed. The lazy man hides his hand in his bosom; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth…. [even lazy having a meal] …The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a reason" (vs 13-15).

So, we can come up with all sorts of excuses on why he won't do what he needs to do and stagnate in the process.

Another problem I want to address is Prov. 12:24. The first part of it is part of the solution.

Proverbs 12:24: "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule, but the lazy shall be under tribute."

The lazy could also be referring to those pretending to show forth effort.

• hard work, not smooth talk, keeps leader leading
• hard work, not personal ideas, keeps the ruler ruling

Diligence, which is hard work, does not require ability, intelligence, educational skill! It only requires focused attention, maximum effort and patient persistence. Diligence is intense and persistent effort, it is hard and continuous labor. The slothful is a lazy man!

• it dislikes exertion
• avoids hard work
• paces himself in tasks
• is slow and sluggish
• resents pressure
• is intimidated by challenges
• cannot sustain strong efforts
• is easily distracted and has little drive

Verse 27: "The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but the substance of a diligent man is precious." He does not place value on it!

Another cause for a person to procrastinate is love of pleasure rather than the true spiritual values of why we are here and where we are going!

Proverbs 21:17: "He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil shall not be rich."

I have in my notes that this oil was referring to oil that was put on the face to cool a person down so he could eat and drink more.

Another cause of procrastination is related to fear, anxiety and apprehension. This certainly applied to my background that I mentioned earlier. However, we are not meant to have an easy passage in the God's Kingdom!

Look at the parable of the talents in Matt. 25 and the parable of the pounds in Luke 19.

Matthew 25:24: "Then the one who had received the single talent also came to him and said, 'Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. And because I was afraid, I went and hid your talent in the earth. Now look, you have your own'" (vs 24-25).

Luke 19:20: "But another came, saying, 'Lord, behold your pound, which I kept laid up in a handkerchief. For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow'" (vs 20-21).

We're now coming into the second phase of this message, which is to do with the effects of procrastination. For there are inevitable results that will eventuate. Let's see the response to the third man's actions in:

Verse 22: "Then he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am a harsh man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow.'"

He was expecting the bare minimum, but he didn't even do that!

Verse 23: "'Then why didn't you deposit my money in the bank, so that at my coming I might have received it with interest?' And he said to those who were standing by, 'Take the pound from him, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.' (And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten pounds.')" (vs 23-25).

Well, he did not have the faith to grow, improve, change, produce or overcome! Think about what the unions and political correctness groups would say about this. With God, the one who has the most will also produce the most if it is given to him!

Verse 26: "For I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given; but the one who does not have, even what he has shall be taken from him."

This is talking spiritually! If a person has lived a lifetime of being called and done nothing with it in terms of growth and overcoming, God will not look at it very favorably.

Now let's have a look at an example of procrastination in Genesis with Lot, and see the devastation that would have occurred to him and his family if not for Divine intervention.

We know the story of the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah and of the two angels who sent to rescue Lot and his family from the imminent destruction to come.

Genesis 19:14: "And Lot went out and spoke with his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, 'Get up and get out of this place, for the LORD will destroy this city.'….[Lot knew what was coming] …But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be jesting."

Lot's sons-in-law were caught up in the evil culture so much that they had no idea of what was coming!

Verse 15: "And when the morning dawned, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, 'Rise up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.'"

So, one would think with a warning like that and seeing that the inhabitants were struck with blindness, he would want to get out of the place as quickly as possible.

Verse 16: "But he lingered…" Why would he linger when he had been given this warning?

"…so the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hands of his two daughters (the LORD being merciful to him), and they brought him forth and set him outside the city. And it came to pass, when they brought him outside, they said, 'Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountain lest you be consumed'" (vs 16-17).

The lesson for us today is not to look back on the pleasures of the world we enjoyed prior to our calling. What was Lot's response?

Verse 18: "And Lot said to them, 'Oh no, my Lord, behold now, your servant has found grace in your sight, and you have magnified your mercy, which you have shown to me in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil overtake me and I die. Behold now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my soul shall live'" (vs 18-20).

So, Lot escaped with his two daughters to the city of Zoa, which means 'little.' However, because of fear, he didn't stay there that long with his daughters, and lived in the mountain anyway.

We come to a Scripture where we see the effects of procrastination very clearly, but with converted minds we can view this from a spiritual perspective. In Prov. 24, we see that one thing leads to another

Proverbs 24:30: "I went by the field of the lazy man and by the vineyard of the man without understanding"—of what needs to be done!

In our case, that would be the understanding of God's Word in our lives.

Verse 31: "And, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down."

• the thorns and nettles represent the natural consequences of neglect and lack of effort
• the broken-down stone wall serves as a visual representation of the absence of protection and security that eventuates the failure to tend one's responsibility

Verse 32: "Then I saw and considered it well; I looked upon it and I received instruction. Yet, a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down, then your poverty comes stalking, and your wants like an armed man" (vs 32-34—or like in the armed forces!

Now this is quite a powerful metaphor for the potential decay and ruin that could result from laziness and inaction by procrastinating.

I want to turn to another parable in Matthew 25, which is a parable of the ten virgins!

Matthew 25:1: "Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be compared to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom."

The virgins could be compared to Christians in all ages, down through the ages, individuals in the Body of Christ. These are people who have not been defiled by the world.

The lamp could be looked at as the Word of God! We all have the Word of God available to us.

Verse 2: "And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The ones who were foolish took their lamps, but they did not take oil with them" (vs 2-3).

It indicates that they were relying on themselves and not on God.

The oil is referring to God's Spirit! One who is procrastinating would be delaying prayer and Bible study for some time in the future.

Verse 4: "But the wise took oil in their vessels along with their lamps. Now, when the bridegroom was gone a long time, they all became drowsy and slept" (vs 4-5).

Down through the ages, the Church has gone off track, being weary in well-doing before being corrected.

Verse 6: :But in the middle of the night there was a cry: 'Look, the bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him.'" That is, it always happens when we least expect it!

Verse 7: "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps."

Now, trimming the lamps could be referred to as God's Word working in a person's life.

Verse 8: "And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.'"

The point here is we cannot do the prayer and study for others! We can pray for them, and we certainly are meant to pray for them, but we cannot do their prayers as Simon Magus wanted Peter to do for him. No one can make it into God's Kingdom on the coattails of other people!

Verse 9: "But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there not be enough for us and for you. But instead, go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'"

There is individual responsibility, which comes at a price. The price is time, effort, and work! It means to do the things that they should have been doing all along, along instead of at the last minute.

Verse 10: "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. And afterwards the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' But He answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you'" (vs 10-12).

Well, if we don't do prayer and study during our lifetime, would Jesus know us?

This is the result of the five foolish virgins wanting to develop character at the last minute, but they were too late. Would one who procrastinates also run the risk of being too late at the end when it really counts? A simple analogy to this parable is in:

Proverbs 20:4: "The lazy one will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore he shall beg in harvest and have nothing."

People can make up all sorts of excuses why they can't or don't want to do what is needed to be done. We can look at a few of those excuses in Luke 9. Jesus was waiting for the responses when He made the invitations.

Luke 9:59: "Then He said to another, 'Follow Me.' And he said, 'Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.' But Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the Kingdom of God'" (vs 59-60).

It's a matter of priorities here. In other words, let the spiritually dead bury those who are physically dead. Only those who follow Christ are on the road to true Life through the narrow and difficult way:

Matthew 7:13: "Enter in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it; for narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it" (vs 13-14).

Luke 9:61: "And another also said, 'I will follow You, Lord, but allow me first to bid farewell to those who are at my house.' But Jesus said to him, 'No one who sets his hand to the plow, and looks back at the things behind, is fit for the Kingdom of God'" (vs 61-62).

Jesus desires whole hearted devotion and a willing mind of His followers. He knows human nature better than we do. If we allow ourselves divided hearts in trying to serve two masters, we will fall!

Now in the event of this man going back to his family to say goodbye, would all his family likely to be encouraging him to leave them and follow Jesus? It goes back to Lot's wife wanting the lifestyle of Sodom and Gomorrah!

Solomon had some wise words to say regarding excuses in:

Ecclesiastes 11:4: "He who watches the wind shall not sow; and he who regards the clouds shall not reap."

This is the result of concentrating on the problem rather than doing the job. In the same way, when we are led by God's Spirit to do something, we can't put it off until conditions are just right. We'll make up any number of excuses to do something, but we can't put it off until conditions are just right. We'll make any number of excuses to delay it.

We need to have the faith to make the first step. even if we can't see how it will turn out in the end.

Proverbs 14:23: "In all labor there is gain, but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty."

Work demands action, not idle talk! We have seen some of the effects of procrastination and what it can do to a person's spiritual growth. It stagnates and delays the growth that God wants in us!

We could be unprepared for decisions that need to be made. We've seen some of the references in God's Word of people putting things off and suffering their consequences as a result.

The question that needs to be asked comes with this. Is procrastination a sin?

When we procrastinate, we are setting up a chain reaction of events that can negatively impact others, not just ourselves. God calls us to do good to one another. When we procrastinate, we are doing the opposite of good.

We come to the third phase of this message, and that's looking at some solutions to the problem!

The Apostle Paul makes mention of the use of the value of time. Once he was called by God on the road to Damascus, Paul wanted to make everything count with the Spirit that God gave him.

Ephesians 5:14: "Therefore, He says, 'You who are sleeping… [that's spiritually asleep] wake up, and arise from the dead!.... [spiritual slumber] …And Christ shall shine upon you.' So then, take heed that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as those who are wise" (vs14-15)—that is, consider the situation we're in, and know how to deal with it!

Wisdom comes from studying God's Word, and there is a lot of it in Proverbs.

Verse 16: "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

In our physical life in the flesh, we only have so many years before our bodies wear out. A few months ago, we heard a very good message on where has time gone? {Where Did the Time Go? by Russell Kemp}

In this life, we need to make use of what time we have, because as Paul says,  "…the days are evil."

• there will be a famine—the hearing—of the Word
• there will be a persecution of true Christians
• there will be the martyrdom of the saints will come

Jesus mentioned the time factor Himself in:

John 9:4: "I must work the works of Him Who sent Me while it is still day…."—while we can do things both in our lives and while the world conditions allow it!

"…When the night comes, no one is able to work" (v 4).

We are then in darkness physically, and in darkness of the Truth! And one simple solution to procrastination is in:

Matthew 6:33: But as for you, seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

We don't let physical things worry about us—worry, anxiety—don't let any of them stop us from seeking spiritual goals! Go to God in prayer. There are solutions to lethargy, which comes from procrastinating.

Hosea 10:12: "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and rains righteousness on you."

This is what needs to be done by anyone who is not all the way on this journey. It's a call to repentance and a plea for anyone who is hard-hearted to come back to God with all their heart!

Procrastination did not come into Solomon's lifestyle. Here's what he says in:

Ecclesiastes 9:10: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where you go."

Again, the emphasis here is that time in this life is limited. Once it's gone, it's too late to make necessary changes or redemption of things left undone.

In a parable in Luke 12, Jesus did not make any allowance for procrastination:

Luke 12:35: "Let your loins be girded about and your lamps burning… [that's the use of God's Spirit] …and you yourselves be like men who are waiting for their Lord, whenever He shall return from the wedding feast; so that when He comes and knocks, they may immediately open to Him. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when He comes, shall find watching. Truly I say to you, he will gird himself, and will make them sit down, and will come and serve them" (vs 35-37). That is doing what he requires!

Verse 38: "And if he comes in the second watch, or comes in the third watch, and finds them watching, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into" (vs 38-39).

Jesus said to His disciples; Luke 21:34: "Watch yourselves, lest your hearts be preoccupied with high living and drinking and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly."

Our spiritual condition is important to our growth and development, certainly important to God; certainly important to God!

Luke 12:40: "Now you, therefore, be ready; for the Son of man is coming in an hour that you do not think."

A procrastinator would not be ready for this. A major solution to procrastination involves work, work on our park.

James 1:21: "Therefore, having rid yourselves of all filthiness and all the abounding of wickedness around you, then in meekness accept for yourselves the implanted Word, which is able to save your lives." That is having a perfectly teachable attitude!

Verse 22: "Then be doers of the Word, and not only hearers, deceiving your own selves, because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, this one is like a man considering his natural face in a mirror" (vs 22-23).

Change comes by a deliberate action on our part! It means being resolute to do what God wants us to do!

Verse 24: "Who, after looking at himself, went away and immediately forgot what he was like. But the one who has looked into the perfect law of freedom, and has continued in it, this one himself has not become a forgetful hearer, but is a doer of the work. This one shall be blessed in his actions" (vs 24-25).

We are promised rewards for doing what is right. The Apostle Paul was not a procrastinator, but a man of action. Even before God called him, he did not idle away his time.

Philippians 3:10: "That I may know Him…

How do we know Him? By putting effort in prayer and study, and gaining spiritual knowledge; and by loving Him!

"…and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection of the dead; not as though I have already received, or have already been perfected; but I am striving, so that I may also lay hold on that for which I also was laid hold of by Christ Jesus" (vs 10-12).

Perfection does take a lifetime of overcoming, and Paul was eagerly pursuing God's Word. Why?

Verse 13: "Brethren, I do not count myself as having attained; but this one thing I do—forgetting the things that are behind, and reaching forth to the things that are ahead."

Paul had not yet made it, but he was still in the flesh. But what is in the past is history. We can't look back on it longingly like Lot's wife, who became a pillar of salt.

Verse 14: "I press toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

So, we must look ahead of us to reach the goal!

Verse 15: "So then, let as many as be perfect be of this mind. And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal even this to you." The mind has to be spiritually mature!

Verse 16: "Nevertheless, in regard to that which we have attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind."

That is the mind of Christ. We are to do what we already know, what we have learned, striving to develop the mind of Christ.

Verse 17: "Brethren, be imitators together of me, and bear in mind those who walk in this way, as you have us for an example."

Let's look at another verse with a solution to this topic.

Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ Who empowers me." It has to be by God's Spirit, not by anything we can do!.

Zechariah 4:6: "…'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts."

There is no room for procrastination in the Plan of God. It has events to occur at His appointed times.

Ecclesiastes 3:1: "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens."

There is a purpose for everything in life, and there's an appointed time!

Verse 2: "A time to be born, and a time to die… [we all die in Adam] …A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. A time to kill… [there will be a time when all the wicked will be killed] …A time to heal…" (vs 2-3).

When the Millennium is here, and the whole earth will be healed! The people, their minds, and their bodies will be healed.

"…a time to break down, and a time to build up. A time to weep, a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance" (vs 3-4).

All these things do deal with the activities and emotions of human life. We need the understanding that without God's Spirit, and the mind of Christ, it all becomes futile.

Verse 5: "A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to gain, and a time to lose…" (vs 5-6).

There will be a time when the stock market and money supply will totally collapse.

"…a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak… [being discreet] …a time to love…" (vs 6-8).

We are to love God and his laws all the time, and Jesus tells us that 'we are to love one another as I have loved you'!

"…a time to hate… [hate anything that is against God, against His Plan and His people] …a time of war…" (v 8).

An appointed time for war will be when Jesus Christ will be leading the resurrected saints on white horses, on the Feast of Trumpets in war against the armies of the earth, on Satan and his demons.

"…and a time of peace" (v 8)—when all opposition is put down and the whole earth, the whole earth will be at peace during the Millennium!

Paul states; 1-Corinthians 14:40: "Let all things be done decently and in order."

There is no allowance there for procrastination!

We all go through trials in our calling and there are difficult times ahead before God brings us all to the other side in great glory.

Galatians 6:9: "Now, we should not lose heart in doing well, because we who do not faint will reap in due time." That's a promise!

To overcome the stagnation of procrastination, it is necessary to have vision.

Proverbs 29:18: "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but happy is he who keeps the Law."

The vision comes from the positive effect of their life now through the experience of God's ways.

Our vision is to attain to the Kingdom of God and to strive to enhance this vision by continual learning from God's Word and internalizing the promises that have been given to us, to those who endure to the end.

Now I want to finish this message in 2-Peter 1, where Peter describes qualities and characteristics that we need to have to overcome procrastination.

2-Peter 1:2: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His Divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and virtue" (vs 2-3).

All glory goes to God! It's nothing that we have done ourselves!

Verse 4: "Through which He has given to us the greatest and most precious promises, that through these you may become partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

Verse 5: "And for this very reason also, having applied all diligence… [we must be diligent in our lives, sparing on effort] …besides, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control…" (vs 5-6).

Having moderation in all areas of life includes our actions, our thoughts and control over procrastination.

"…and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, Godliness; and to Godliness, brotherly love; and to brotherly love, the love of God" (vs 6-7).

All these qualities develop into the love of God and now we see the result if we do these things in the next verse:

Verse 8: "For if these things exist and abound in you, they will cause you to be neither lacking effort nor lacking fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

So, it leads us to the mind that God wants of us, ultimately to perfection for His Kingdom for all eternity!

Scriptural References:

• Acts 24:22-27
• Proverbs 27:1-2
• James 4:13-14
• 1-Peter 1:24
• James 4:15-17
• Proverbs 26:13-15
• Proverbs 12:24, 27
• Proverbs 21:17
• Matthew 25: 24-25
• Luke 19:20-26
• Genesis 19:14-20
• Proverbs 24:30-34
• Matthew 25:1-12
• Proverbs 20:4
• Luke 9:59-60
• Matthew 7:13-14
• Luke 9:61-62
• Ecclesiastes 11:4
• Proverbs 14:23
• Ephesians 5:14-16
• John 9:4
• Matthew 6:33
• Hosea 10:12
• Ecclesiastes 9:10
• Luke 12:35-39
• Luke 21:34
• Luke 12:40
• James 1:21-25
• Philippians 3:10-17
• Philippians 4:13
• Zechariah 4:6
• Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
• 1-Corinthians 14:40
• Galatians 6:9
• Proverbs 29:18
• 2-Peter 1:2-8

Scripture referenced, not quoted: Acts 24:10-21

Also referenced: Message:
Where Did the Time Go? by Russell Kemp

LS:bo/po
Transcribed: 5/12/25

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