The Principle of Delay
Twenty years ago, a man (I forgot who) gave me a book entitled The Gospel According to Job by a Canadian named Mike Mason. At the time, I read a great portion of it, but did not finish it. I put it on the shelf where it sat for the next twenty years. Recently, I decided to work my way through the book of Job. In the process, I peeled Mason’s devotional commentary on Job off the shelf. In one of his chapters, Mason describes what he calls “a principle of delayed reaction.” He offers some of the best insights I have ever heard into the principle of delay. Here are some of his thoughts mingled with some of mine.
Life would be easier if there were no delays. Imagine a world in which there was immediate reward for good conduct and immediate punishment for bad behavior. That would simplify life, would it not? If bad behavior was like sticking your hand in the flame on the stove, there would be more good behavior!
In His infinite wisdom, the Lord built into the nature of things on the earth the principle of delayed reaction. For example, the Lord did not immediately give the land to Abraham. At the moment people do a good deed, they do not know for sure when, or even if, it will be recognized by others. At the moment people commit a sin, they do not know for sure when, or even if, they will be caught or punished in this life. That is the hard reality of delay.
The presence of the principle of delay means life sometimes seems unfair. The wrongdoers are not immediately punished. It is not that they are never get punished; it is that their punishment is delayed until later, maybe delayed until judgment day. God delays His justice to give people time to turn to Him.
The presence of the principle of delay makes morality possible. Our reaction to the gap between act and consequences determines our character. Because of the delayed reaction, people do good things because it is the right thing to do, not because of immediate reward.
The presence of the principle of delay means we have to walk by faith! Because of delayed reaction, we have to trust that the Lord is in control, that He knows what He is doing, and that He will be faithful to fulfill His promises.
The presence of the principle of delay also means we can grow to spiritual maturity. Because of the delayed reaction, we can either act like children living only for the moment, or we can grow up realizing if we do what is right and good, the reward will come later.
Over 50 years ago, someone (I forgot who) introduced me to the concept that, in a sense, maturity is delayed gratification. The immature, such as children, want immediate gratification; the mature are willing to delay gratification and do the right thing.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 4/27/2014
Life would be easier if there were no delays. Imagine a world in which there was immediate reward for good conduct and immediate punishment for bad behavior. That would simplify life, would it not? If bad behavior was like sticking your hand in the flame on the stove, there would be more good behavior!
In His infinite wisdom, the Lord built into the nature of things on the earth the principle of delayed reaction. For example, the Lord did not immediately give the land to Abraham. At the moment people do a good deed, they do not know for sure when, or even if, it will be recognized by others. At the moment people commit a sin, they do not know for sure when, or even if, they will be caught or punished in this life. That is the hard reality of delay.
The presence of the principle of delay means life sometimes seems unfair. The wrongdoers are not immediately punished. It is not that they are never get punished; it is that their punishment is delayed until later, maybe delayed until judgment day. God delays His justice to give people time to turn to Him.
The presence of the principle of delay makes morality possible. Our reaction to the gap between act and consequences determines our character. Because of the delayed reaction, people do good things because it is the right thing to do, not because of immediate reward.
The presence of the principle of delay means we have to walk by faith! Because of delayed reaction, we have to trust that the Lord is in control, that He knows what He is doing, and that He will be faithful to fulfill His promises.
The presence of the principle of delay also means we can grow to spiritual maturity. Because of the delayed reaction, we can either act like children living only for the moment, or we can grow up realizing if we do what is right and good, the reward will come later.
Over 50 years ago, someone (I forgot who) introduced me to the concept that, in a sense, maturity is delayed gratification. The immature, such as children, want immediate gratification; the mature are willing to delay gratification and do the right thing.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 4/27/2014
