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Did you realize that when you are carelessly late, you are putting your own interests above the interests of other people? It's true. Think about it. When you are late for an appointment, you waste that time for the one waiting for you, and you prevent others from making the most of that time. When you're late for team practice, it prevents the team from practicing as effectively, and it seems to say that you don't care much about the other people on the team. When you're late for school, it often disrupts the concentration of the class when you arrive and sends a message of disrespect for the rules. When you're late meeting a friend, that friend may begin to wonder just how important they really are to you. When you are late for a church worship service, it seems as if you are disrespectful both to God and to the people who are distracted when you arrive.

Surely you don't want others to think that you only care about yourself and that you don't care about them. So consider how your arriving late will affect others. Do what the Bible says and look to the interests of others and not just to your own interests. Do your best not to be late. Plan ahead so that you can be on time.

And just as it is important to be on time now, it is even more important that you not be late when Jesus returns to earth for His followers. Read in the Bible at Matthew 25:1-13 about the ten virgins who weren't ready when the bridegroom came. This is a parable which Jesus told to help us understand how important it is to plan ahead, be ready, and not be late when He comes back for us.

So whether it is for regular appointments or for Jesus' return, don't be late!