Building Project

It is fascinating to look back through history and see that though time may have passed, in most ways, people today are the same as they have always been. A great example of this is found in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. Paul was writing to a church which had its share of problems. Though they had the benefit of a lengthy period of personal teaching and ministry by the Apostle Paul they simply were not living up to the investment he had made in them. They were factionalized (both spiritually and socially), proud, carnal, and harboring immorality under the guise of Christian liberty. Add to that list the fact that they had made a promise to raise an offering to help out the persecuted believers in Jerusalem which they had yet to fulfill. Paul understands the underlying problem and writes to urge them to get their spiritual house in order without delay: As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (2Cor 6:1-2) Procrastination seems to have been a besetting sin of the Corinthian church. “Procrastinate” comes from the Latin procrastinare, literally, “of tomorrow.” Time is the canvas upon which our lives are painted. Each day the canvas gets smaller, though none of us knows how much space is left. Procrastination is the thief of time. What is it that keeps you from fulfilling the promises you have made to yourself and others? Is it not most often procrastination? If it is any consolation, even the Apostle Paul notes that he struggled with the same thing. (Rom 7:15) But he is clear as to the source of the problem - our sinful nature. (Gal 5:17) And though that may explain the problem it does not excuse it. Sin is the enemy to which we must show no mercy because it will certainly not offer us any. How is your spiritual life suffering because you have simply failed to act on your good intentions? Why are you waiting to join the Church, start going to Sunday School, or find an area of service? Don’t delay! Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible. This was Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians as well: Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. (2 Cor 8:11) This was good advice 2,000 years ago and is good advice today. It is our goal to complete the building project debt-free. This can and will be done if we continue to give freely, generously and regularly. Please give to the building fund.