Delayed Obedience Is Disobedience

What Are You Waiting For?

There are some things we don’t need to pray about anymore.

That might sound strange coming from a pastor, but hear me out.

If God has already made something clear in His Word, we don’t need another sign. We don’t need better circumstances. We don’t need to wait until we’re more comfortable.

We need to obey.

One of the things I said recently while preaching through Song of Solomon was simple:

Delayed obedience is disobedience.

That one hits close to home for me because I’ve lived it.

There was a time in my life when I knew God was calling me into pastoral ministry.

And I ran.

I could probably give you all the reasons I gave myself at the time. Some of them probably even sounded pretty spiritual.

But underneath all the excuses was a simple truth.

I knew what God wanted me to do, and I wasn’t doing it.

We Usually Don’t Call It Disobedience

That’s part of our problem.

We give disobedience nicer names.

“I’m waiting for the right time.”

“I’m praying about it.”

“I’m just not ready.”

“I need to get a few things straightened out first.”

“Maybe someday.”

There certainly are times when wisdom requires patience. Scripture teaches us not to rush foolishly into decisions.

But there’s a difference between waiting on God and making God wait on us.

James writes:

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
James 4:17

That’s uncomfortable.

James doesn’t say knowing the right thing and rejecting it forever is sin.

He says knowing and failing to do it is sin.

The Danger of “Someday”

In Song of Solomon 5, the woman’s beloved comes to her door.

He knocks.

She’s already comfortable in bed. Getting up would be inconvenient.

So she hesitates.

Eventually, she gets up and opens the door.

But the moment has passed.

He’s gone.

Her hesitation has consequences.

That’s a picture many of us need.

We tend to think obedience delayed is still obedience as long as we eventually get around to it.

But sometimes opportunities have expiration dates.

There’s a conversation you need to have.

There’s someone you need to forgive.

There’s an apology you need to make.

There’s a ministry God has been nudging you toward.

There’s a habit you know needs to end.

There’s a step of faith you’ve been avoiding.

Maybe you’ve never trusted Jesus, and you keep telling yourself you’ll deal with God later.

Someday is one of Satan’s favorite words.

He doesn’t always have to convince us to say no to God.

Sometimes he only needs to convince us to say, “Not yet.”

What Has God Already Told You?

Maybe the question isn’t, “God, what do You want me to do?”

Maybe the question is:

What has God already told me to do that I haven’t done?

Jesus said:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
John 14:15

Obedience isn’t how we earn God’s love.

It’s a response to God’s love.

We don’t obey so Jesus will save us. We obey because Jesus has saved us.

And when the One who loves us calls us to something, the proper response isn’t eventually.

It’s yes.

So what are you waiting for?

If God has spoken clearly through His Word, take the next step.

Make the call.

Have the conversation.

Forgive.

Repent.

Serve.

Go.

Come home.

Don’t allow “someday” to become a lifetime.