In one of his teachings, Mike Murdock defines maturity as the ability to delay gratification. Conversely, immaturity is the inability to delay gratification. The ability to delay gratification means sacrifice, and that is the bedrock for a great life. Unfortunately, advertisers subject people to the tyranny of the urgent. They want you to get it now. That is understandable, because that is how they can smile to the bank. For example, an advert by a bottling company says, LIVE FOR NOW. As simple as this is, it contradicts the gospel of the Kingdom.

“The ability to delay gratification means sacrifice, and that is the bedrock for a great life.”

More than anything, living for now is what the devil has put at the front burner of many lives. He wants young people to live for now in sexual immorality. The devil wants a new entrepreneur to live for now and squander whatever little profit comes into the business. The prodigal son is a biblical example of those who embrace the live-for-now philosophy. He chose to live for now rather than be groomed. He wrecked his life in no time. The Kingdom of God teaches moderation in this present world, and then a lavish reward in the world to come. Kingdom citizens do not live for now, they live for the future.