Haste makes waste

 

I think that most of you have heard that proverb (not a biblical one) growing up.  Perhaps you heard the one my dad used to tell me.  The “hurrieder I go the behinder I get.” That saying has always stuck in my mind.  How many times have I hurried to get something done and then problems arose which cost more time to correct.  If only I would have slowed down just a little the project would have got done quicker. I would like to say I have never spilt any paint due to being in a rush, but I have and that is really never a good thing.

How are we doing with our hurriedness in our relationship with the Lord?  Is there so much to do that we are neglecting the One for whom we are working? Are we running

around frantically because there is so much to be accomplished in such a short period of time? I read about Martin Luther saying “There is so much to do today I have to spend the first 3 hours in prayer.”  Wow!!  Isn’t that wasting time that could be used accomplishing the tasks at hand?  We all know the answer to that; time with God is never wasted.  His plans will always be fulfilled.

God is never in a hurry and we should not be either.  We are to be diligent and do everything “heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,” Col 3:23   but we shouldn’t be on fast forward in such a manner that we are waiting for God to catch up to us. That is just being wasteful of our time because we are doing it on our own strength which could cause us to easily fall into sin.  Prov 19:2b and he sins who hastens with his feet.   The message Bible paraphrases that passage as “haste makes waste.”

Instead of hurrying around lets put this psalm into practice this week.

Ps 5:3  “In the morning, O Lord You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.”  (NIV)

Pastor Marty