Proverbs SOAP: If you can help, help promptly

A Chapter of Proverbs a Day…

Scripture: Proverbs 3:28

Do not say to your neighbor,

“Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”–

when you now have it with you.

Observation: If it is in your power to help or give something to your neighbor that you has been asked or that you know you should share, do not hesitate or procrastinate. Give, share or do what is requested as you can.

Application: I tend to procrastinate on things more often than I should. Sometimes I put off really simple things for other people that I could so easily just do or give right from the start but my waiting sometimes leads to me forgetting.

If it is possible for me to help when asked, I need to jump right on it, not wait. Waiting causes simple tasks to turn into guilt-ridden tasks. And that is not good.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for this guidance today.

So often I am asked tiny little favors that I know I can do quickly or easily and yet I put them off, causing someone to wait and my guilt feelings to grow.

Please, Lord, guide me on responding to requests in the way you instruct. If I am able to help or give, remind me to do it promptly instead of hesitating.

Please, Lord, guide me in plowing through my backlog of little tasks, too, so that I don’t feel so bogged down. Show me what to-dos you want me to complete and guide me in taking action on them. And show me which duties and tasks to relinquish so that I am serving you in the way you want me to serve.

Thank you so much for this reminder and your forgiveness, Lord.