Finishing Well

Finishing well is what is expected of all of us in all our God given assignments. The Scriptures says ‘Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.’ Ecclesiastes 7:8.God expects us to finish well all the tasks HE has given us to do and HE continuously provides the resources for us to not only fish but finish very well. Winston Churchill said ‘We shall neither fail nor falter; we shall not weaken or tire…give us the tools and we will finish the job.”. Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882 also said “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it well and serenely…” We sing the song, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back,” but why is it that so many people do? There seems to be many Christians who begin well but finish poorly. Lamentations 3:20-24 ‘I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” No matter what stage you are in your assignment today as you read this piece do not give up God is giving you the opportunity of a fresh start to finish very well. Og Mandino an American Essayist and Psychologist, 1923-1996 said “Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don’t waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.”

I learnt very recently that one of the greatest addictions that mankind needs to be freed from is the habit of quitting. It is worse than those popular addictions to drug, Alcohol etc.Once you give in to the habit of quitting once you face any challenge it is quite easy to run away from every God given assignment .The truth you must know and face up to is that if the assignment is from God it will be challenged. Whether is in your family, business, career, academic you must not quit. Be determined to finish very well .As you focus on the Lord Jesus Christ who is the author and finisher of your faith .HE alone knows your complete story and history .With you unflinching faith in HIM you will finish well. As various challenges come your way don’t quit. Stay true to the very purpose which HE called you to do. Other people’s assignments may look easier; stay focused on yours and follow HIM on how HE is leading you. Handle your intimate relationship well so you can say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” 2 Tim. 4:7.Proverbs 22:3 ‘A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.’ Comparative study of effective leaders who finished well has identified various barriers that hindered leaders from finishing well .Usually a leader who fails in one area will also fail in others. Learn from those who didn’t finish well. We can be alerted to these barriers. We can avoid them in our own lives. Numerous leaders have fallen due to some issue related to money. Handle money with all integrity and accountability. Use your gifting and the power that comes with it well to the Glory of God. Once you abuse the gifts and the power HIS grace confers you may not finish well. Stay away from the Bathshebas, David’s sin with Bathsheba was a pivotal point from which his leadership never fully recovered… Be clothed always with Humility. Don’t rest on your oars; be like Caleb you can still conquer more mountains even at your old age. Be encouraged today you have started the race don’t quit .You can finish well too.