Instant Versus Deferred Gratification
As I reflect on this generation and the coming ones, it is obvious that decisions and perceptions are patterned after the modernised culture of instant gratification. It is the wanting of satisfaction to be immediate (e.g. fast food, fast transactions, fast communications). There seems to be a mentality that satisfaction that is delayed is not worth pursuing for it is not guaranteable. One would rather be risk-adversed in personal satisfaction, and this can be seen partially in the blooming world of credit card usage. Why is there a readily acceptance of credit card financing in our world today? It is because satisfaction must be fulfilled first. Thus, the notion of working first for a long term benefit (deferred gratification), where the payoff is much later, seems foreign.
Yet, I must truthfully say that much of spiritual teaching concerning salvation and spiritual growth stems from a ‘deferred gratification’ approach. That is why the Gospel is highly unpopular to non-believers or even new believers, once they see that the final (ultimate) satisfaction for the Christian comes at the very end; our welcome into our eternal home upon death in this world. Everyone (especially the younger generation) struggles over this truth because we are stuck in a world where instant gratification is lauded. The only place where it is still practiced is in corporations and the business world (which people love to hate); this only reinforces the fact that deferred satisfaction is ‘bad’. Most conversations that I have with working people will attest to that, be it in their annual bonuses which they worked so hard for but is uncertain, to the prospect of losing their jobs even though they have been loyal to the company for ‘x amount’ of years.
One example for my time is this; even computer games are being speedily delivered to the people who ‘needs’ it. Gone are the days of patiently waiting for the game to appear in your retail shops and slowly unpackaging it at home, and glossing over the hardcopy manual printings. Now, it is all about downloadable content straight to your computer Hard Disk Drive, and no more tedious, wordy, manuals… tutorials are now incorporated into the gameplay itself. I see the danger of our mindset assaulted constantly by a very fundamentally wrong notion of ‘instant gratification’. Why would youths and young adults ‘work out their salvation’ till we come to heaven?
What can we do about it? Pray that the Holy Spirit will work mightily in the hearts of His people to sanctify us and preserve our faith till the end. Let us be more mindful of the worldliness that seeps into the church in many forms (directly and indirectly). Be vigilant in examining our decisions whether it is for instant ’success’ or is it for long term ’success’ that conforms to the Will of God.
Remember, that Jesus Christ in His ministry constantly employed parables to do with long term growth (especially in farming). And it would be wise to sometimes reflect on the fact that God put Adam into a ‘Garden’ to work in it (Gen 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it). Even the perfect Eden was a place to slowly reap benefits from God’s abundant Grace. Therefore, let us be watchful over our mindset and heart.
Maybe I should change my hobby and try gardening instead (like my parents!). It’s a thought 
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