The Smell of Incomplete – Proverbs in Practice

“Yuk!  What is that smell?”  Hopefully, former procrastinators, you’ve not had that experience.  The smell, it turned out, was chicken I’d failed to cook.  Pee-yew!

The smell was just one part of the loss.  There was the money spent.  There was the couple of meals we could’ve had for the week and the freezer.  There was the new requirement to come up with something else to eat.  All because I was too lazy to tend to the chicken I’d brought home.  And there would’ve been a time cost if I’d made a recipe with that meat and neglected to serve it. 

“Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.”  Proverbs 12:27

Lesson:  Finish the job I start.

In this proverb, somebody spent the time and effort to hunt.  He succeeded in getting meat, say birds or a deer – but then he leaves all that meat to rot.  He and others lose out on the nourishment he – almost – provided.  What a waste.

Someone once told me, “I don’t have a problem with procrastination.  I just have trouble finishing what I’ve started.”  That, too, is procrastination.  This verse makes it clear.

Here are other ways we start something, don’t finish, and lose the benefit:

• Set aside a dress to mend – but the child outgrows it.
• Open a savings account – but don’t make deposits into it.
• Connect with a friend and promise to keep up – but don’t talk for a few years.
• Buy a supply of fresh veggies to avoid junk food – but choose to order in pizza.
• Sign up for music lessons – but don’t practice in between lessons.
• Buy books – but don’t read them.
• Go to a workshop – but don’t implement the knowledge gained.
• Buy a lovely planner – but don’t use it.
• Stock up on hobby supplies – but don’t get around to enjoying them.

What is it about follow through that eludes us?  Maybe we try to do too much and get overwhelmed.  Maybe we forget and need reminders. Maybe we lose interest or get tired.  Mostly, those are excuses.

Benefits follow a completed job.  That’s the precious wealth referred to.  In this verse, food and perhaps skins. Take the class, do the work, get the certificate.  What you learned is wealth; the certificate is wealth because it verifies your work and opens doors. Look at the list above and notice what wealth is lost.

Paying attention to complete the job is important. A simple start can be the garbage. When you take out the garbage, also put a new bag in the can right then so it’s ready for use.  That’s a good one for children too.  Do the whole job, get the benefit. 

What job do you have partially done right now?