How Jesus Viewed Life's Endless Crises
08/26/10 07:06 Filed in: Priorities | Crises
Jesus summed up His teaching on procrastination in today's parable when He said, "Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.” In the parable of the ten foolish virgins He said virtually the same thing: “Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.”
There is a sense of urgency to Jesus' call to ministry because He knows better than we do that our time on earth is swift and fleeting. We only have so many opportunities to say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
There is a sense of urgency to Jesus' call to ministry because He knows better than we do that our time on earth is swift and fleeting. We only have so many opportunities to say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
“Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.” (Liturgy: Matt. 24: 42-51)
The Bible urges us to “wait on the Lord” in a spirit of hopeful expectation of what is to come. But there is a big difference between waiting and procrastinating. Jesus had no patience with procrastinators as illustrated by today’s parable. The servant who tarried in the performance of his duties was consigned to the same area of hell as the hypocrites.
According to psychologists, roughly one out of every five people describe themselves as procrastinators. They wait until the last day to cram for exams; they’re late in filing their taxes; they postpone planning for retirement; they put off a trip to the dentist; and they wait on the Lord to help them do what they can and should do for themselves. Their lives are an endless series of crises.
But, in today’s hectic world, there is a little bit of the procrastinator in all of us. We’re all so busy trying to catch up and deal with the crisis of the moment that we seldom get around to what is truly important.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus urged His followers to get their priorities straight. In John 9: 4, He said, “We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
In Luke 9: 59-62, He urged a man to follow Him only to hear, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus replied, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Yet another man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Jesus summed up His teaching on procrastination in today's parable when He said, "Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.” In the parable of the ten foolish virgins He said virtually the same thing: “Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.”
There is a sense of urgency to Jesus' call to ministry because He knows better than we do that our time on earth is swift and fleeting. We only have so many opportunities to say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
Each new day has more than its share of distractions, problems and minor crises competing for our attention. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of saying, “I’m really busy right now. I’ve got my hands full, Lord. Try me some other time.”
Jesus understood that. That’s why He said, in Matthew 6: 33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
To Learn What Else Jesus Said About Today's Theme, Click "Time."
The Bible urges us to “wait on the Lord” in a spirit of hopeful expectation of what is to come. But there is a big difference between waiting and procrastinating. Jesus had no patience with procrastinators as illustrated by today’s parable. The servant who tarried in the performance of his duties was consigned to the same area of hell as the hypocrites.
According to psychologists, roughly one out of every five people describe themselves as procrastinators. They wait until the last day to cram for exams; they’re late in filing their taxes; they postpone planning for retirement; they put off a trip to the dentist; and they wait on the Lord to help them do what they can and should do for themselves. Their lives are an endless series of crises.
But, in today’s hectic world, there is a little bit of the procrastinator in all of us. We’re all so busy trying to catch up and deal with the crisis of the moment that we seldom get around to what is truly important.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus urged His followers to get their priorities straight. In John 9: 4, He said, “We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
In Luke 9: 59-62, He urged a man to follow Him only to hear, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus replied, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Yet another man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Jesus summed up His teaching on procrastination in today's parable when He said, "Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.” In the parable of the ten foolish virgins He said virtually the same thing: “Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.”
There is a sense of urgency to Jesus' call to ministry because He knows better than we do that our time on earth is swift and fleeting. We only have so many opportunities to say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
Each new day has more than its share of distractions, problems and minor crises competing for our attention. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of saying, “I’m really busy right now. I’ve got my hands full, Lord. Try me some other time.”
Jesus understood that. That’s why He said, in Matthew 6: 33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
To Learn What Else Jesus Said About Today's Theme, Click "Time."
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