“I’ll do it later.”
Ever said those words? I have. But I’d like to encourage us to not wait until later when it comes to doing good. The reason is simple: if we wait until later to do a good work, we may not get around to doing it at all.
In particular today, I want us to pay attention to the seemingly “little things” that God may call us to do. For instance:
-- Praying for or with someone.
-- Calling or talking to someone.
-- Writing an email, text, or card to someone.
-- Making time to be with someone.
-- Hugging someone.
You see, “someone” is hurting today. Right now. In this moment. And if we say, “I’ll do it later,” that someone’s pain is going to continue unabated. They will continue to bleed from the heart while God’s gentle whisper to us to help them gets forgotten in the rush and busyness of our day.
In Ephesians 2:10, Paul encourages us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Each time we say, “I’ll do it later” – and often forget to do it at all – we fail to be Jesus’ hands and feet and voice in this broken and bleeding world.
And what if we do remember to “do it later”? Well, I hate to say it, but “later” may be “too late.” If I am in despair now, it is now that I need your words of hope. If I am lonely now, it is now that I need your reassuring hug. If I am crying now, it is now that I need you to sit with me and comfort me.
In this world of instant communication, we have tremendous power to do good in the moment of someone’s need. And, to be honest, I think we are failing badly to use that power as God intends. We are so inundated with images and information that we are missing cries from wounded hearts. As a result, a lot of “someones” are hurting and feeling terribly isolated and forgotten and abandoned.
Let us act on these words from 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.”
Don’t withhold good – don’t even wait to “do it later” – when it is in your power to do good now for someone.
Don’t say to someone by your silence, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it” because the need is now. The pain is now. The time is now.
Please – when God calls, act now.
Someone is hurting.