It would probably be nothing short of a miracle for someone to live without ever being late for something; but a greater miracle is that there are a few people who are never on time for anything.

It is inevitable that a person’s record of punctuality will be broken sooner or later. No one can foresee such things as flat tires, cars that won’t start, traffic jams, inaccurate clocks etc. Nor is it for the sake of the unfortunate victims of these circumstance that this is being written. They have my understanding and sympathy.

Those who do not have my understanding and sympathy (nor of many other people, for that matter) are those who are habitually late for practically everything. The most brazen of these dilatory (tardy) individuals was one who boasted, Being late is just my thing! An interesting fact, however, is that his tardiness ceased in relation to at least one regularly scheduled meeting when the chairman delivered the ultimatum, If you can’t come on time, don’t come. Your tardiness disturbs the class. Thereafter he came on time.

Some psychologists are of the opinion that habitual tardiness is simply the manifestation of a subconscious desire for attention. Others, that it is a subtle way of controlling other people (I’ll make them wait my time); and still others, that it is subtle expression of rebellion. Whatever the psychological reasons, the fact remains that one of the surest ways of eroding your popularity, and generating a lot of irritation, is to be habitually, or frequently late for scheduled events.

In regard to Christian activities, there is probably no meeting where tardiness has a more adverse effect than the observance of the Lord’s Supper. It is worth noting in regard to that last Passover which preceded the institution of the Lord’s Supper, that we read, AND WHEN THE HOUR WAS COME, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him, (Lk.22:14). It is impossible to imagine someone arriving late for the keeping of that Passover; yet it is uncommon at the Lord’s Supper to see the same stragglers week after week arriving ten, fifteen, twenty minutes late.

So prevalent is this pernicious practice that it seems necessary to draw attention to the fact that the time appointed by the elders of the local church for the observance of the Lord’s Supper is the time when the believers meet around the Person of the Lord Himself to remember His death. Others have reminded us that we would be punctual in keeping an appointment with the President (were we fortunate enough to be granted one); yet we dare to make the King of kings await our convenience when it comes to the matter of keeping the remembrance feast which He Himself has appointed, and to which He has invited us.

It may be necessary to remind ourselves, perhaps, of the fragile nature of worship. It is one of the highest spiritual exercises in which the Christian can engage, requiring the undistracted employment of intelligence, emotion, and will; yet in many of our churches the worshippers are subjected to every Lord’s Day to the distraction caused by the tardy arrival of the same repeat offenders. (One church is to be commended for the attempt of the elders to remedy this deplorable situation. They requested the tardy to remain in the vestibule (lobby) until a hymn was being sung, when their entry would create the least distraction. It did help).​

It is regrettable, however, that churches have to resort to such expedients to protect the great majority of the worshippers from the totally unnecessary annoyance caused by the inconsiderateness of the thoughtless or selfish few.

Tardiness betokens (indicates) lack of consideration for others; but worse it betokens lack of reverence for God. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him, Ps.89:7. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably WITH REVERENCE and godly fear, Heb.12:8. Not the least part of reverence for God, and consideration for other Christians, is punctuality at the scheduled meetings of the church.