How Are Procrastination and Avoidance Alike?

Do procrastination and avoidance sound like twin behaviors? To procrastinate means to put off or postpone doing a task. Avoidance means dodging or averting responsibility for something or someone. Procrastination and avoidance can evolve into indifference, which can be intentional or incidental.

Procrastination’s triumph is creating indifference to an issue even when neglect has or will produce severe repercussions. It’s analogous to feeling no guilt for failing to be responsible in some significant area of life. Guilt propels a person to make things right, to apologize, to clear up neglect.

The guilt David felt for the death of Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, was suppressed until God’s messenger Nathan reminded David of his sin. When you feel guilty, God’s message is to confess, repent, seek forgiveness, and make amends. Remember, you can do all things through Christ Jesus. There is no better time than this moment to begin.  

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Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow” – when you now have it with you.

~Proverbs 3:27-28 New International Version

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Rediscovering Reverence

History acknowledges that thousands of Russians came forward to mourn the death of Joseph Stalin, knowing he was responsible for the death and enslavement of millions of the Russian people. Despite knowing this, the people still needed to adore and show reverence for him. Reverence is a mindset that elevates someone above normal.

At the other end of the spectrum is one’s losing reverence for what should be honored and respected. Becoming too self-centered is usually the culprit for becoming less reverent in one's thoughts and feelings. The early Christians’ reverence for Jesus was apparent, for they honored him above everything and everyone.

John Greenleaf Whittier offered this prayer for those who had  become indifferent to the virtue of reverence: "Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Forgive our foolish ways! Reclothe in us our rightful mind, In purer hearts Thy service find, In deeper reverence, praise." We need this prayer to help us rediscover reverence for the Lord God and Christ Jesus.  

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Don’t envy evil men but continue to reverence the Lord all the time, for surely you have a wonderful future ahead of you. There Is hope for you yet!

~Proverbs 23:17-18 The Living Bible

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What Indifference Communicates

Indifference is a state of mind that’s contrary to what God created us to be. Indifference portrays apathy, a lack of compassion for others. The verbal and nonverbal message of indifference is, “You deserve what you get, and I could care less." How is it possible to lose reverence for the gift of life and especially for God, its creator?

The unwillingness to be forgiving is associated with the attitude of indifference. Anger and bitterness entombed in the heart eventually transform into indifference. Losing a sense of reverence for life and the pleasure of fellowship with Christ Jesus usually comes as a result of extended pain and suffering.

God will restore those who have lost this sense of reverence and have become indifferent to life. If this is your plight, why not renew your vows to Christ Jesus and let him transform you to the depths of your soul? Ask him to help you make whatever changes that are needed so you can once again feel a sense of wonderment toward the life God has given you.  

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All of them have stubborn minds! Their ears are stopped up, and their eyes are covered. They cannot see or hear or understand. If they could, they would turn to me, and I would heal them.  

~Matthew 13:15 Contemporary English Bible

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