Do you “want to want to” or want to?

Probing Proverbs: 3:27-28 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

Wisdom can make the whole difference in an individual’s life. That is why the book of Proverbs is so precious and important to study. This passage, if listened to, will save you from looking back with memories that bring only regret.

Many years ago a steamship named “Central America” was sailing from New York to San Francisco. The ship sprang a leak, sending out a distress signal, another ship arrived promptly and offered help. The captain of the sinking ship decided he would wait till light. The rescue ship sent back the signal, “Let me take your passengers on board now!”  The captain of the Central America did not want to do that in the dark, so he signaled back, “Lie by till morning.” Again the rescue ship shot back, “Better to let us take them NOW!” “Lie by till morning.” Was echoed back again. About an hour and half later the Central America’s lights disappeared, all were lost!

How many lives from the beginning of time have lost what could have been, because tomorrow was easier than today! Procrastination is the plague that fills our lives with missed opportunities, missed blessings, and regrets that did not need to happen. I am preaching to no one but me – yet, we all must be admonished by this Proverb. When is the right time to do what is right? When do we see change – when we “want to want to” or when we “want to”? I have found in my life it is the latter. “Wanting to want to” is easy because it has only to do with intentions. “Wanting to” requires action.

When I began a relationship with Christ the change inside me was great and authentic. My priorities and the intent of my heart drastically changed. However, the “flesh”, my sinful nature remained in me. Scripture states that sin can no longer control me…BUT I can yield to it if I choose.

Romans 6:12–14 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. ¹³ Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. ¹⁴ Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Here is one of the subtlest tactics used by our flesh. We won’t rebelliously choose sin most times, but we will put off what should or could be done. We come up with reasons why NOW is not the best time. In reality, often, it has nothing to do with the “best” time, but more to do with which is more difficult, or costly. This is where we allow “wanting to want to” rob us of the potential of a moment! We feel good, because the intentions of our heart claims we want to do what needs to be done, yet our flesh has lulled our spirit to sleep with grandiose ideas of how it will happen later. This is not where we want to live, but only action will bring the change.

I read this statement and it spoke volumes to me:

Every time a man puts a new idea across, he finds ten men who thought of it before he did—but they only thought of it.— Advertiser’s Digest^[1]

When I move from only “wanting to want to” (procrastination) to “wanting to” that is when I apply action to my desire. So whether it be doing good for someone in need or committing to right in your life where wrong has been thriving, we should not wait. Take steps now! Start with prayer, the Word and add accountability – you will do today what your flesh wants put off till tomorrow!

The so what? Do you put things off? Why? Can you think of opportunities missed in your life? How do you feel about those? Now ask yourself, what can I do to not allow this to happen? Why not make a list of at least five things you desire to see happen or know should change. What is your plan to see them happen?

---

^[1] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1092). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.