more than simply avoiding evil…

a common mistake in looking at the future is putting off doing good.

james 4.17 (niv), anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

james here, is talking about the issue of procrastination.  “i’m intending to do it.”  have you ever met somebody who is always “aiming to do it”?  i always want to say, “when are you going to pull the trigger?”

procrastination is my sin

it only caused me sorrow

i know i ought to change my ways,

in fact i will – tomorrow.

we love to put off.  james says that’s a trap.  just because you know the right thing to do doesn’t mean you’re going to do it.

how do you define sin?  we think of evil activities: murder, commit adultery, cheat, lie, steal.  these are sins of commission but there’s another kind of sin – sins of omission.  to him who knows to do good and doesn’t do it.  i can do nothing and still sin because there are things i ought to be doing.

you can be a part of a legalistic church.  “i don’t drink, smoke, cuss or chew or run around with girls who do.”  you don’t do anything but you still forgot GOD in your life.

CHRISTianity is more than simply avoiding evil.  if all the CHRISTian life was, was a bunch of “don’ts” – don’t do this, don’t do that, then everybody who is dead would qualify as a CHRISTian, because they don’t do anything.

procrastination is a subtle trap – it’s the land of someday i’ll...”  “one of these days…”  and you never do because we presume about tomorrow.  “one of these days I’m going to get serious about GOD.  i’m going to get committed.”  don’t procrastinate.  GOD says you don’t have any guarantee of tomorrow, none at all.

just a thought from the front porch…