2 CORINTHIANS 6:2

There are some things we are eager to get on with. We conceive of some project and can hardly wait to get working on it. We chomp at the bit, we fret and fuss until we can start. Or maybe we plan a trip and it seems that the time for departure will never come. It might be a dinner appointment with our best friends and we are eager for the appointed time to arrive. Conversely, there are those dreaded things which loom up before us and which we keep postponing as long as possible. We may need a root canal, or we may have a huge examination at school. It may be some a family member that drives us buggy and we are in no hurry for them to visit. Again, there are those things, noble things, which we fully intend to get to, but for this or that reason just don't seem to get around to it. We act like the man whose roof leaked and he would say, "I can't fix the roof today because it's raining. Tomorrow, when the sun is shining, I will do it." The problem is that when the next day came and the sun was shining, he'd say, "No use worrying about that leaky roof. It's not raining so it's no problem. Tomorrow, if it rains, I'll fix it." Tomorrow. The creed of the procrastinator is "Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow." The favorite words of the procrastinator are "Tomorrow!" "Sometime!" and "Later!" Their motto is, "I'll do it when I get around to it." Let us not be procrastinators.

1. WHEN OPPORTUNITY COMES, WE OUGHT TO GET AROUND TO IT!
1. Listen to Paul on that:
1. Ephesians 5:15, 16 "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil."
2. Colossians 4:5 "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity."
2. So, what are some of the common opportunities about which we may procrastinate?
1. Being actively and constructively involved in our children's lives:
1. How true the song by Neil Diamond: "My child arrived just the other day. He came to the world in the usual way. But there were planes to catch and bills to pay. He learned to walk while I was away and was talkin' 'fore I knew it. And as he grew he'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, Dad; you know,, I'm gonna be like you." And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon. "When you comin' home, Dad?" "I don't know when but we'll get together then, Son; you know, we'll have a good time then." My son turned ten just the other day. He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad. Come on, let's play. Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today, I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok." And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed and he said, "I'm gonna be like him -- yeah, you know, I'm gonna be like him." And the cat's in the cradle, and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon. "When you comin' home, Dad?" "I don't know when but we'll get together then, Son; you know, we'll have a good time then." Well he came home from college just the other day, so much like a man I just had to say, "Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for awhile?" He shook his head and said with a smile, "What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys. See you later -- can I have them please?" "When you comin' home, Son?" "I don't know when -- but we'll get together then, Dad; you know, we'll have a good time then." I've long since retired and my son['s moved away. I called him up just the other day. I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind." He said, "I'd love to Dad, if I can find the time. You see, my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu. But it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad; it's sure nice talkin' to you." And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me, he'd grown up just like me -- my son was just like me."
2. Sad, true and pathetic. We only get one shot at doing it right. Let's get around to it.
2. Being of service to our fellow man:
1. Proverbs 3:27, 28 "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,' when you have it with you."
2. Galatians 6:9, 10 "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."
3. While we cannot possibly help all who ask it of us, we should not delay in helping those we should, if we can, when we can.
3. Becoming faithful stewards of what God gives us:
1. He gives us our time. We ought to get around to using it wisely and for His purposes.
2. He gives us our talents. We ought to get around to using them for His glory.
3. He gives us our treasure. We ought to get around to bringing Him the full tithe.
4. Receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior:
1. Isaiah 55:6 "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near."
2. 2 Corinthians 6:2 "for He says, 'At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you;' behold, now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation.'"
5. Deepening our relationship with Christ:
1. Paul's pressing desire was to know Christ more intimately. He wrote in Philippians 3:8 "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ,"
2. Ecclesiastes 12:1 "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no delight in them.'"
6. Being faithful workers in the local congregation:
1. There are plenty of needs for workers: teachers, youth workers, audio-visual helpers, property and ground maintenance, musicians, visitation ministries, benevolent ministries and on and on.
2. If you are aware of the need and are able to serve, when will you get around to it?
7. Seeking to fix broken relationships:
1. You may be the one who was wronged, you may have been the offender. The responsibility is the same. In either case you have the responsibility to seek reconciliation, or at least to exhaust every avenue of reconciliation before giving up.
2. Luke 17:3, 4 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him."
3. Matthew 5:23, 24 "If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering."
4. Romans 12:18 "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
5. This may mean forgiving a sibling, parent, friend, or spouse who is deceased. It means refusing to be buried in an ancient bitterness. It means consciously deciding to forgive them again and again each time they come to mind.
6. This may mean seeking to reconcile with one yet living. "Nervous in Nashville" wrote Ann Landers detailing a broken relationship with a sister. The sister is dying and asked "Nervous" to come see her to take her back. "Nervous" is not willing. Ann says, "You MUST take her back. Now is no time to be judgmental. Be kind and loving. In the years to come, you will be glad you did." (Oregonian, 10-10-01).
3. But knowing and doing are two different things. Jesus said, in John 13:17, "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them." It's just a matter of getting around to it.

2. WE ARE SOMETIMES SLOW TO GET AROUND TO IT!
1. I am often like that. My "knower" is bigger than my "doer!" My intention is greater than my endeavor. I plan to, when I get around to it.
2. But why the delay? There may be several factors which strangulate our getting around to it.
1. It might be sheer laziness. Like the grasshopper who played around all summer and didn't put anything in store for winter. Winter came and he appealed to the ant for assistance. He was hungry because while he should have stored up goods, he didn't get around to it.
2. It might be that I am just too busy, spread too thin, worn out, depleted of energy and resources.
3. It might be that I am ignorant of the need and apathetic if I do know it.
4. It might be that I think I have plenty of time -- or am waiting for a more convenient time, which never seems to come.
5. It might be that I am waiting for a more desirable opportunity to come along.
6. It might be that I don't think it's my responsibility. "Let someone else do it!"
7. It might be that I am waiting to see what others do. Like Tom Turtle who went out for coffee with his brothers. As they drank they remembered they hadn't brought their money. Tom said, "I'll go home to get the money, but while I'm gone, don't drink my coffee!" An hour passed, a day passed, a week passed and no Tom. One of the brothers said, "He's never coming back. I'm going to drink his coffee." Tom suddenly poked his head back in and said, "Aha! Just for that I'll never go get the money!" He never got around to it because he was watching others.
3. These are just excuses and they are as full of holes as Swiss cheese. It's like the man who owned a rope. His neighbor wanted to borrow it but he said, "I can't loan it to you because I need it to tie up my sand pile." The neighbor said, "You can't tie up a sand pile with a rope!" The man said, "No, but one excuse is as good as another when I don't want to loan you my rope!" And any old excuse will do if we simply don't want to get around to it.

3. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS JUST GET AROUND TO IT!
1. This demands a clear cut decision to "just do it!" The decision is ours to make: let opportunity slip by, or get around to it.
2. Here are some attitudes or mind sets which will eliminate inertia and alleviate apathy and help us get around to it.
1. Remember that while opportunity knocks, it may knock only once. Like a "once in a lifetime bargain" it comes and is past before we know it.
2. Determine ahead of time to "Carpe Diem" or "seize the day!"
3. Remember that sense of loss and regret you experienced in the past when you didn't get around to it.
4. Remember the old saying, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
5. Envision the success and fulfillment you will realize when you actually get around to it.
6. Realize that when we know what is right to do and don't do it, it is sin. James 4:17.
3. We ought to be like the old man who always shirked when duty called. He finally said, "I'm done refusin'!" He finally got around to it.