Aroundtuits & Mañana

Articles

Philip C. Strong
12/21/22 - Salvation

There are some tendencies that transcend state or even national borders. It doesn’t matter whether you speak Texan, Cajun, or Spanish, there is a word for “not now, maybe later.” In Texan and to my knowledge Cajun, the word is “aroundtuit”- as in, “When I get ‘aroundtuit’ I’ll take care of it.” For those who might not speak Texan/Cajun, the word “aroundtuit” does not necessarily imply that one is otherwise occupied, or simply unable to perform the specific task under consideration at the moment, it just means he’s not going to do it right now! Furthermore, he may not ever get “aroundtuit,” but will perpetually keep the task on the “to do” list just the same.

Our Spanish-speaking friends have a word that doesn’t translate into aroundtuit, but it gets to the same place anyway. Their word is “mañana.” More properly, mañana usually refers to “in the morning” or “tomorrow”- but that’s only when it is used more properly. When most folks say “mañana” it just means “not now, maybe later.” See? Spanish-speakers have a word for aroundtuit also!

Such is all well and good as long as we’re talking about some chore the wife or the neighbor wants you to do for them. In those cases, either “aroundtuit” or “mañana” will do, depending on which language is more appropriate. But what about if “it” is instead some duty or responsibility owed to God? That is a horse of a different color in any language!

Several O.T. passages stress the importance of not delaying when it comes to fulfilling our responsibilities to God: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near,” Isa.55:6; “Give glory to the Lord your God, before He brings darkness and before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains, and while you are hoping for light He makes it into deep darkness, and turns it into gloom,” Jer.13:16; “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the Lord you God will surely require it of you,” Deut.23:21; and the Psalmist adds, “I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments,” Psa.119:60.

Why do you suppose so much is said in the Bible about procrastinating? Could it be that the God who created us best knows our weaknesses and tendencies? Absotively and posilutely! Therefore He said, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth,” Prov.27:1. In the Epistle of James, after echoing some of the same warnings and reasons as above, He added, “Therefore, to the one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin,” Jas.4:17. The meaning of these things is pretty clear: God doesn’t accept “aroundtuits” or “mañanas”! He expects us to read, understand, and obey His Word now while we still have the opportunity to do so. The danger of procrastination is shown by parable in Luke 13:25, “Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’” You can wait too long to obey the Lord.

“Aroundtuits” and “mañanas” may work with your neighbor- they may even get you by with your wife, but they won’t work with God! Friend, if “getting right with the Lord” is on your to-do list, don’t wait until you get “aroundtuit” or “mañana”- do it now. “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin,” Heb.3:13. Remember, “now” is the only time any of us is guaranteed.