Sometimes, God calls us to wait, and sometimes, we’re just procrastinating.
Hi, it’s Dienece Darling here again. Have you ever grappled over the question, “Am I waiting on God or am I procrastinating?” I know I have, but perhaps two stories in the Bible can help us find an answer today. To know the right time.
In Haggai chapter one, the people kept saying, “The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” (Haggai 1:2 KJV)
In Esther, the queen waited until the second banquet with the king before she asked him to spare her life and the life of her people.
Both building God’s house and begging for the lives of His people are good things to do. Yet, one was wrong to wait and another right. Let’s dive into their stories to figure out why Esther was commended, and Haggai’s generation was rebuked.
Let’s examine Esther first.
Esther knew coming to the king uninvited could get her killed. You’d think the moment the king held out the golden sceptre she’d quickly make her petition. But no, she’d been well trained by Hegai, the king’s chamberlain, to know just what the king liked.
Esther held her tongue and invited the king to a banquet. The king knew that wasn’t her real request. At the end of the banquet, he commanded to know what she really wanted. He even promised she could have up to half the kingdom. That seems like the perfect time to say, ‘Spare me and my people!’
But Esther asked the king to a second banquet. Why? She must have heard the still, small voice of God saying, “Wait. Not yet.”
Do you know that voice? That peaceful whisper across our souls which can conflict with our own fears and impatience. But it’s there, dampening our desire to hurry up and get things over with. Holding us back for a reason we can’t see yet.
Why did God tell Esther to wait?
Mordecai, a Jew and Esther’s relative, had spoiled a plot to assassinate the king, but the king had forgotten about that. The king needed to have a sleepless night, so he could be reminded of Mordecai’s loyalty.
Esther wisely heeded God’s nudging to wait until the right moment. The story of Esther is a beautiful, wonderful example of waiting for just the right moment.
But what about Haggai’s generation who said, ‘The time is not come’?
God sent a prophet after them.
The Israelites had been led astray in Ezra chapter 4 to stop the work of rebuilding the temple. They allowed the world to influence them. They listened to enemy whispers that it wasn’t time. And God told Haggai’s generation, “Consider your ways.” Haggai 1:5 KJV
How did Haggai’s people know they were wrong?
“Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” Haggai 1:6 KJV
Does your life feel like you are running around a hamster’s wheel? Going, going, but getting nowhere?
You earn money, but your pockets seem to have holes. Nothing is ever enough. Nothing ever works out.
We cannot succeed in life if we have left off God’s work.
Stop and consider your ways. Talk to God. See where you are going wrong. Ask Him if you haven’t done something you should have. Consider, “Am I procrastinating?”
Haggai’s generation weren’t lazy. They were building houses for their families. That’s important, right?
God accused them of dwelling in ‘cieled houses.’ Haggai 1:4 KJV.
‘Cielded’ is an archaic term I had to look up. Basically, it means ornate, panelled. Think display house and you’ve got the right image.
We ought to provide for our families, but are we providing for their needs or overworking ourselves so they can buy designer clothes? Are we ‘too busy’ for God because we ‘need’ the latest gadget for our house?
There is nothing wrong with riches. Money isn’t the problem. It’s the love of money. It’s when nice things come at the expense of God’s work.
We cannot neglect God’s work and expect to succeed.
Neither can we expect God to be pleased if we neglect our families (check out Eli as a father if you need an example for that).
Life is a balance. Sometimes, we have to wait, and sometimes, we should have gone.
That was a great distinction between waiting and procrastinating. I think have done both myself, so I found this really helpful. Thanks, Dienece!
Thank you, Leila! How wonderful to hear this was helpful. I’ve definitely done both (probably leaning stronger towards the latter to be honest!). God bless, Dienece