The Consequences of Tardiness in the Life of a Christian
Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 14:40; Matthew 25:10–13
INTRODUCTION
A Spiritual Plague in the Church Just as the world faces physical plagues that damage health, the church faces spiritual plagues that damage its vitality. One of the most subtle yet destructive is the "plague of untimeliness"—chronic tardiness. It is a habit that erodes the spiritual health of the congregation.
Not Just Isolated Incidents We all face occasional emergencies or unforeseen delays. That is understandable. The problem arises when lateness becomes a lifestyle—a chronic habit where a believer consistently arrives after the service has begun.
A Call to Conscience It is time to recognize this behavior for what it is: a serious spiritual matter. Being late to meet with God is not a light thing; it carries heavy spiritual consequences.
I. A SIGN OF PERSONAL INDISCIPLINE
God is a God of Order and Time God created time. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." A wise person discerns the proper time and judgment (Ecclesiastes 8:5–6).
The Management of the Gift We all have the same twenty-four hours in a day. The issue is rarely a "lack of time" but rather a lack of priority.
• Martha and Mary: Martha was distracted by temporal tasks, while Mary chose the right time to sit at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38–42). Many are late because they prioritize the temporal over the spiritual.
• The Example of Jesus: Our Lord lived perfectly according to God’s timing. He arrived at the appointed time for the Passover and for His own sacrifice (Luke 22:14; Galatians 4:4). To be Christ-like is to be disciplined.
II. IT HINDERS THE FLOW OF WORSHIP
The Demand for Order The Apostle Paul commanded: "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40). Chronic lateness creates chaos.
• Negative Effects: Praise begins with empty pews. The preacher speaks to shifting crowds. The entire service is delayed, affecting everyone's schedule.
• Spiritual Loss: Constant interruptions break the concentration of others. Those who arrive late miss the preparation of the heart, the initial hymns, and the opening prayers—essential parts of the spiritual feast.
• The Biblical Ideal: Arriving early allows for meditation and unity. Imagine the power of a congregation lifting their voices in unison from the very first note.
III. A CONTAGIOUS AND NEGATIVE HABIT
The Leaven Effect "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9). When leaders or established members are late, it sends a message that the start time is irrelevant.
• Influence on New Believers: New converts often arrive early with hunger. If they see the "mature" members arriving late, they quickly adapt to that bad habit.
• Christian Responsibility: We are told not to put a stumbling block in our brother's way (Romans 14:13). We must be examples in conduct and discipline (1 Timothy 4:12).
IV. A NEGATIVE TESTIMONY TO THE WORLD
Our lives are "open letters" read by all men (2 Corinthians 3:2). When the world sees Christians arriving late to their own worship, what do they read? They read apathy. They read that God is not our priority. A punctual, fervent church testifies that what happens inside the building is the most important event of the week.
V. A FORM OF THEFT
• Stealing from Others: When we delay a meeting or interrupt a prayer, we are stealing the peace and the time of our brothers.
• Stealing from God: God deserves the firstfruits of our time, not the leftovers of a disorganized morning.
• The Principle: "Let him who stole steal no longer" (Efesios 4:28). We should treat the time of others as we want our own time to be treated (Luke 6:31).
VI. A LACK OF LOVE AND CONSIDERATION
Punctuality is love in action. Philippians 2:3 tells us to esteem others as better than ourselves.
• Respect: Arriving late communicates that your time is more valuable than everyone else's.
• The Sin of Omission: If we know that being on time is the "good" thing to do and we neglect it, the Bible calls it sin (James 4:17).
VII. THE LOSS OF DIVINE BLESSINGS
The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13) The five foolish virgins were late to the wedding feast because they were unprepared. When they finally arrived, the door was shut. They were called unwise and lost the greatest blessing of their lives.
The Woman with the Spirit of Infirmity (Luke 13:10–13) Jesus healed a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years. She received her miracle because she was there when Jesus arrived. What if she had been running fifteen minutes late? She might have missed her moment of deliverance. Small acts of negligence lead to large losses of grace.
- Is Judging by Appearance a Sin?
- How Does a Christian Identify with Christ?
- Why Must We Examine Ourselves?
CONCLUSION
We are rarely late for a secular job, a doctor's appointment, or a flight, because we value the consequences. Why then are we late for the One who gave His life for us?
Lateness is not a personality trait; it is a spiritual condition. Let us repent of this "plague" and honor God with our presence, our order, and our time.
