2 “Thus speaks the L ORD of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time...

45

Transcript of 2 “Thus speaks the L ORD of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time...

2 “Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not

come, the time that the LORD’s house should be built.”’” 3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says

the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!(Haggai 1)

Procrastination

“I’ve finally found something I’m good at.”

Lazy Procrastination• Consider the ant – Proverbs 6:6-11

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard!Consider her ways and be wise,7 Which, having no captain,Overseer or ruler,8 Provides her supplies in the summer,And gathers her food in the harvest.

9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

(Proverbs 6)

Lazy Procrastination• Consider the ant – Proverbs 6:6-11• Devoid of understanding – Pro. 24:30-34

30 I went by the field of the lazy man,And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;31 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down.

32 When I saw it, I considered it well;I looked on it and received instruction:33 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest;34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

(Proverbs 24)

Lazy Procrastination• Consider the ant – Proverbs 6:6-11• Devoid of understanding – Pro. 24:30-34• With excuses – Proverbs 26:13-16

13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!”14 As a door turns on its hinges,So does the lazy man on his bed.

15 The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyesThan seven men who can answer sensibly.

(Proverbs 26)

Lazy Procrastination• Consider the ant you sluggard• A man devoid of understanding• With excuses

Wrong Priorities• Like the Jews – Haggai 1:2-5

2 “Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not

come, the time that the LORD’s house should be built.”’” 3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says

the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!(Haggai 1)

Wrong Priorities• Like the Jews – Haggai 1:2-5• Earthly treasures – Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy

and where thieves break in and steal; 20

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust

destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure

is, there your heart will be also.(Matthew 6)

Wrong Priorities• Like the Jews – Haggai 1:2-5• Earthly treasures – Matthew 6:19-21• Man over God – Matthew 6:24

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve

God and mammon.(Matthew 6)

Wrong Priorities• Like the Jews – Haggai 1:2-5• Earthly treasures – Matthew 6:19-21• Man over God – Matthew 6:24• Seek first … - Matthew 6:33

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these

things shall be added to you.(Matthew 6)

Wrong Priorities• Like the Jews, putting self first• Earthly treasures, not heavenly• Man over God …• Seek first the kingdom of God

Other Problems• Fear/ignorance – Matthew 25:24-25

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you

have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in

the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

(Matthew 25)

Other Problems• Fear/ignorance – Matthew 25:24-25–About consequences – Matt. 25:26-28

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered

seed.

27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my

coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent

from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

(Matthew 25)

Other Problems• Fear/ignorance – Matthew 25:24-25–About consequences – Matt. 25:26-28

• Miscalculation of time – Matt. 25:10-12

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward

the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered

and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

(Matthew 25)

Other Problems• Fear/ignorance – Matthew 25:24-25–About consequences – Matt. 25:26-28

• Miscalculation of time – Matt. 25:10-12• Negligence – James 4:13-17

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a

city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then

vanishes away.

15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16

But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does

not do it, to him it is sin.(James 4)

Other Problems• Fear/ignorance–About consequences

• Miscalculation of time• Negligence

Lessons We Can Learn• Time to start – Nehemiah 2:17

17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem

lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of

Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”

(Nehemiah 2)

Lessons We Can Learn• Time to start – Nehemiah 2:17• Have a mind to work – Nehemiah 4:6

6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half

its height, for the people had a mind to work.

(Nehemiah 4)

Lessons We Can Learn• Time to start – Nehemiah 2:17• Have a mind to work – Nehemiah 4:6• Do what we can – Matthew 25:14-19

14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who

called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave

five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went

on a journey.

16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and

made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two

more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled

accounts with them.(Matthew 25)

Lessons We Can Learn• Time to start – Nehemiah 2:17• Have a mind to work – Nehemiah 4:6• Do what we can – Matthew 25:14-19• Do it now – Acts 22:16; 9:18

16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

(Acts 22)

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he

received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

(Acts 9)

Lessons We Can Learn• Time to start (nothing happens until we

start)• Have a mind to work• Do what we can• Do it now

We offer many excuses for NOT doing things we should do; don’t know how,

don’t want the responsibility, not convenient, afraid, and many more.

But there are often consequences to our procrastination – and even eternal consequences if we fail to obey God.

Are you putting off truly obeying the gospel, or living for Christ every day, excusing yourself in different ways?

Nothing good happens until we start; no forgiveness, no hope of heaven.

Won’t you start for heaven today?