Do It Today: The Jewish Wisdom Behind Not Delaying Kindness

The verse in Mishlei offers a simple but powerful lesson about kindness: When someone needs your help and you have the ability to help them now, do not unnecessarily make them wait.

“Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go and come back, and tomorrow I will give,’ when you have it with you” (Mishlei 3:28).

It is easy to think that as long as we eventually do the right thing, it does not matter when we do it. But this verse teaches otherwise. If we can lend a hand today, we should not make excuses and postpone that kindness until tomorrow.

Don’t Withhold Good and Don’t Delay It

The Malbim explains:

“Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go and come back, and tomorrow I will give’—meaning, not only should you not withhold kindness altogether, but it is also not proper to delay doing good until tomorrow when you have the means to do good today. Similarly, one should not delay spiritual good and put it off until tomorrow, as it is said: ‘Do not say, “When I am free, I will study.”’ A person should do good while still in the prime of life, during the days of youth.”

The message is not only “do not withhold,” but also “do not delay.” The previous verse, Mishlei 3:27, tells us, “Do not withhold good.” In other words, do not refuse to do good when you are able. This verse adds another layer: Even if you intend to help eventually, do not postpone it without good reason when you can act today.

The Malbim extends this principle beyond helping another person. We can make the same mistake with our own spiritual growth. We tell ourselves that we will study Torah when life becomes less busy, take on a mitzvah when the timing is better, or devote ourselves to meaningful things at some point in the future.

But there will always be another tomorrow. The right time to begin doing good is while the opportunity is in front of us.

We should therefore strive to do good while we have the strength, time, and ability to do it rather than waiting for a more convenient moment that may never arrive. A good deed performed today is more than a good intention for tomorrow.

Take It With You

Don’t say “tomorrow” when you can do it today: Before putting off a request for help, ask yourself: Do I truly have no way to help right now, or would it simply be more convenient to delay?

Start small. Start now: You do not need to wait for the perfect moment to do good. Even a small act of kindness today is worth more than a big promise continually postponed until tomorrow.