Finishing Well

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Out of the 400+ leaders that are mentioned throughout Scripture, only 80 of them finish well. That means that 20% of leaders end well, what an awful number! I know that I am super young in ministry, so you could ask, “Why is he talking about finishing well, he doesn’t even know how to start well!” Truth! However, my greatest fear in life, literally, is not ending well. My greatest fear is that I will lose fire, passion, discipline, courage, zeal, and vision, and end up being this lame old dude who is not making a serious impact on the Kingdom, I just know how to run churches! I have seen far too many of those, and don’t want to be one!

I have seen people who are “wise,” in their elderly years yet they lack any true passion for the Lord. It is like they got tired of running throughout their life, and now they are being carried to the finish line and barely make it across. On the other hand I have seen older people, who although they don’t jump around during worship, they don’t yell like Piper or Chandler, they don’t nearly kill people like I do when I get excited, they have lost no zeal for the Lord, but rather gained true wisdom. They still cry when they think about the lost, they still fight for Biblical truth, they have lost no passion, and they are ending well.

Now, I know that ending well doesn’t necessarily mean ending with passion, passion is not the mark of a Christian living out his life correctly. However, I do think that, along with many other things, is part of it. One of my mentors once told me there are the flames that burn like a forest fire for all to see, but there is also a fire that is hidden in coals. Although the coals aren’t burning for all to see, there is an enteral fire that is strong, maybe even hotter than the forest flames! We see this in Paul’s life for sure.

As Paul was facing imminent death, he was writing to Timothy (2 Timothy is Paul’s last letter) and you see zealousness for the Lord that he still possesses. Paul said that young Tim needs to “fan into flame the gift of God,” and that he was “not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed” (Paul was currently in jail to be executed for his passionate faith). Paul charged Timothy to pass the baton by “entrusting to faithful men who will be able to teach others also,” to be a “good athlete” and a “hard working farmer.” Paul said that he, “endure[d] everything for the sake of the elect.” Paul was still “charging” Timothy, and said that, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (Scripture mentioned is 2 Timothy 1:6, 1:12, 2:2, 2:5, 2:6, 2:10, 4:1, and 4:7 respectively)

ONLY 20% OF PEOPLE IN SCRIPTURE FINISH WELL!!! That is a crazy, big, and somewhat discouraging number. So, while I am still young, and while most of you reading this are probably still young, we need to begin to prepare ourselves to finish well. This comes through being consistently disciplined with the Lord TODAY. It comes through loving and knowing the Word, sharing the gospel with all, making disciples, serving in ministry, murdering killing and slaughtering sin, being a good steward, fighting the good fight TODAY! 

When I asked a guy who is older in the faith, but still loves Jesus, how to finish well he said, “You have to finish well today. And tomorrow, you have to finish well tomorrow.” Amen. Psalm 92:13-14 is my promise verse I hold strong to. My translation of it is, “If you root yourself in the Lord. If you fall deeply in love with Him today, and stay steadfast through trails and disappointments throughout life, you will still be a beast in old age!” Fight today to finish well tomorrow, and do better than 20%; our generation depends on it.

Laziness (Part 2)

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In the previous post on laziness we looked through Scripture at the many different examples it gives about the lazy person, and the sinfulness in being lazy. I want to personalize this one some and talk about what I think is one of the main reasons for laziness in my life, and in many people’s lives around me. The reason I have found so many people are lazy is that we do not know how to properly rest. 

Rest is a very godly thing, if done correctly. Think about this, in the Jewish system God ordained a whole day to do nothing but rest. So, follow my math here for a second; assuming the Israelites slept 8 hours a night, and then actually practiced the Sabbath (which most didn’t!) then they would be resting for 42.85% of their lives! Now, this doesn’t even include other times the Lord ordained for rest like festivals, times after the harvest, or even the Sabbath year! This probably means that about half of their lives were supposed to be spent resting, and enjoying the Lord and what He had given them.

I think the biggest reason the Lord orchestrated this is so that we would be able to frequently shift our minds back to loving and serving Him, and enjoying what He has given us (husbands/wives, kids, nature, etc.). I think the other reason is so that we would never mistakenly think that we were God! See, He needs no rest, but if we go more then 24 hours without sleeping we are like drunken men, and if we do anymore it could get dangerous for our health. The Lord is consistently reminding us that we need Him, even in the way that He has created rest!

Now, back to laziness. We are lazy because we don’t know how to rest. Here’s an example that frequently happens in my life. I work really, really hard one day (I know, I’m a Pastor, most of yall think I just have a quiet time all day!), and come home and am really tired. I know I haven’t actually spent time with the Lord yet, but since I have been doing “the Lord’s work” all day, I don’t really feel like cracking open the Word or praying (even though it always give me Life, every time!). I am too tired, and so then what happens? I hop onto the computer, spend 10 minutes on every one of my favorite websites, and then decide to play a game online or on my phone. I usually think, “Oh, I’ll read after I’m done,” although I know this never happens! After playing for like an hour I feel no more rested then before I played. So then I get back online, and then ask Natalie if she wants to watch TV. Then, when it is time to go to bed, I stay up an extra 35 minutes online again before I actually fall asleep.

The problem with all of that is none of it is actually resting. Actually for the most part all of that is being lazy. Now, I am not saying that anything I did is bad in and of itself, but there is a time and a place for everything right? Often times the way I use my time is a waste of time. Instead of doing things that give my soul rest, I simply waste it away.

I think this is true for many of us. It is different for everyone, but we tend to waste time, and we don’t truly rest. This is what laziness does this to us. We get caught up doing things that we think will benefit us, yet they really just steal energy and joy. Instead of playing games, I would feel so much better if I spent some time with my Savior, or even took a nap!

Sometimes to rest is to just watch movies with friends, or just lie in bed and do nothing, but you have to discern for yourself which is which. I know what being lazy looks like for me, as I am sure that most of you do for you too. Learn how to rest, learn what gives you energy, and what takes it away, or even just leaves you stagnant (doesn’t give or steal energy). For me, reading deep theological books, spending time in the Word and praying, playing sports, or doing almost anything communal gives me energy, and I feel rested afterwards.

Playing dumb computer games, watching TV in long doses, surfing the Internet does nothing but leave me the same as before. These things are lazy, and I think a sin, because it is not what the Lord would have you do. So, this is a small example, but one that produces big results if followed. Don’t be lazy, rather learn how to properly rest. When you do this I think you will actually work harder, and better, and in doing so give more glory to the King! And when you rest in Him, you get to know Him more! A true win-win.