Life Is Too Short To Waste It

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14 (NIV) 

  

  Those with afflictions can get into the habit of putting their lives on hold waiting for a “better day”, perhaps a day when their thorn does not hurt so much. The illusive day when they are feeling well before doing the things they want to do. 

  I will never forget the time we were visiting some relatives in the mountains of east Tennessee. We came across two houses sitting side by side. 

  One house was brand new with brightly colored paint and sparkling windows. It was a picture perfect house. The other house was a rundown tar-paper shack with rotting wood, it did not look viable to live in. Yet my relatives told me that there was a family who owned both homes. That family had just built the new home beside the rundown one, but was living in the old decrepit home because they did not want to mess up their new house. That is one of the craziest things I have come across in my life. Imagine choosing to live in a rundown tar-paper shack when you own a nice new home. 

  How many times have we saved new items, perhaps new clothing or shoes while wearing old, worn out items? What are we saving such things for? Why not enjoy and make use of them instead of storing them away and making them useless? Then there are those who make big plans and promises to themselves and their families to do things, perhaps take a nice vacation, but are always “too busy”. 

  “Tomorrow” can be a terrible word for those who are always awaiting that magical day or opportunity that never seems to arrive. Don’t put off, or put away, something good for tomorrow that you can enjoy or do today. And don’t “live in a tar-paper shack” when the Lord has blessed you with better things that you’ve been afraid to use because of foolish reasons, or because you are waiting. 

  Don’t miss a blessing by holding off for a perfect day to arrive before doing the things you want to do or using the nice things God has given you. Don’t wait to live your life. Tomorrow may never come, but today is here before you. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to use every day and every good thing You have given us. Help us not to count on tomorrow but to live life today. Amen. 

Karlton Douglas 

Copyright 2017