Punctuality and Your Spiritual Focus - 2/2

So what does the Bible have to say about punctuality? Does God care if you are often late to worship?

We read in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God.” Jesus encourages Christians to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt.22: 37). Is it possible to love Him whole-heartedly and seek Him first and still be habitually late to the assembling of His saints where He is reverenced and praised?

Consider an example of five girls who were late to a wedding, as recorded in Matthew 25:1-13. They were unprepared for the coming of the bridegroom. Hastily, they attempted to get themselves ready and then appeared at the wedding only to find the door shut and their entrance denied. If these ladies had been on time, with the necessary supplies, they wouldn’t have missed out on the celebration they obviously wanted to attend.



Consider Ephesians 5:16 “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil”; redeem means to “buy up for oneself” (Vines). Paul is not asking us to buy back time, because once time is gone no amount of money can ever buy it back, but he wants us “to pay the necessary price in effort and sacrifice to use properly the time (opportunities) we have now” (C.G. Caldwell, Truth Commentaries: Ephesians 247). I have also heard this described as buying fruit in season. Here is the opportunity (season) set aside by the elders to study and worship God together. If we are redeeming the time, shouldn’t we be there on time to study and worship our Creator? What better use of our time is there than to be together with those of like precious faith studying the word of God?

Brethren, coming from a father of two small children, I know that it is not easy to get everything together and get to the church building before services are scheduled to begin. It takes forethought and dedication, but it can be done! We can be like Ezra, in the days of old, who “prepared his heart to seek the Lord” (Ezra 7:10). These are some routines that work for my family in our endeavor to be punctual. It may benefit you, as well, to try these practical tips to help you, and your family, get to services on time.

1. Have a plan. Resolve to get to the building ten or fifteen minutes before services start. Make your definition of "late" as anything after that designated time, not the start of the service.
2. Set a goal. Decide what time you need to leave your house so you’ll arrive at the building at your designated time. Make every effort to leave at that time – even if someone’s hair isn’t fixed perfectly or someone’s shoes are untied. If you make this consistent policy your family will know what to expect and will adapt accordingly!
3. Think ahead. Lay out everyone’s clothes the night before or an hour before departure time.
4. Get organized. Gather Bibles and Bible class material beforehand so it’s easily accessible when it’s time to leave.
5. Take care of physical needs. Feed everyone in plenty of time to be finished and cleaned up before it’s time to leave.

Brethren, I know that you will find being punctual much better for your family than persistent tardiness. Consider these advantages to always arriving on time for worship.

• You are calm and relaxed. You aren’t rushing around. You are preparing your mind to seek the Lord.
• You can visit with fellow Christians before services. You will find this is the best time to grow closer and help your brothers and sisters in Christ. Often, those who arrive early are the ones who grow closest together and work the hardest in the local congregation. If you feel "left out," try arriving early and see what happens!
• You can situate yourself, your Bible, and your class materials in plenty of time for class.
• You aren’t causing weaker brethren to be distracted by your late arrival.

Not only will your family benefit, but the services will be conducted in a more decent and orderly fashion if every member were to arrive on time for services (1 Cor. 14:40). If we are truly setting our affections on things above, we will want to be present when the word of God is being discussed.

Brethren, let us all strive to be more punctual!