Finish What You Start

We’ve been talking about time management lately. A good time management strategy is being able to manage your time well enough to be able to actually finish what you start.

Sometimes I’m kind of bad at starting several small tasks and getting sidetracked which then causes me not to finish any of them. For example, I might set out to dust the living room. As I’m dusting I start straightening up and picking up items (thus I stop my dusting before I’m finished). I notice a couple of my son’s things that he’s left lying in the living room so I take them to his room. Then as I drop of the items in his room I see some dishes that he’s left in there. Next, I decide to take those dishes up to the kitchen.

Once I’m in the kitchen I see the sink full of dishes that need to be loaded into the dishwasher so obviously I have to start working on that! As I’m loading dishes I remember that need to send an email. I decide that I better go ahead and do that before I forget. So open my email and before I write my email I see several unopened emails that I decide to go ahead and check. I think you can see where I’m going here! 🙂 I’ve started several tasks but have unfinished dusting, straightening, dishes, and an email never sent.

It kind of reminds me of this funny video on procrastination and getting stuff done…

Spiritual laws of progression

I recently completed a bible reading plan about the spiritual laws of progression. In this plan it discusses how God wants his children to prosper, grow and make progress and not just exist and survive. Day 9’s reading teaches that the ability to finish what you start is essential in order to make progress in life. Here’s what it says…

“The determination to finish what we start is critical to our progress. If we really want to get ahead, we cannot enthusiastically start off a number of projects and give up halfway through. In the verse [2 Timothy 4:7], we see Paul declaring that he has finished the race. On the cross, we see Jesus declaring that it is finished [John 19:30].
Some reasons why we may not complete what we begin could be the following:

– We allow ourselves to be distracted
– We overestimate our ability to finish a task
– We are lazy
– We get discouraged due to obstacles
– We do not manage time wisely

Winning is not always finishing first. Sometimes winning is just finishing. We will not be remembered by how well we began but by how well we finish.

Attempt to list out all the activities that you have started and are planning on finishing and make a renewed effort to do so.”^[1]

Examples of finishers in the Bible:

Noah was a finisher

God gave Noah the exceptionally large task of building an ark to withstand a global flood. Many biblical scholars believe that it could have taken Noah up to 75 years to build the ark. Nevertheless, he proceeded, and he finished!

“Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.

“Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.”

So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.” Genesis 6:14-22 NLT

Nehemiah was a finisher

Nehemiah set out to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2), and he encountered much opposition (Nehemiah 4-6). However, he persevered through it all, and with the help of God he finished the wall in less than 2 months.

“So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.” Nehemiah 6:15-16 (NLT)

Paul was a finisher

Paul didn’t have a good start, like many of us, but he had a good finish even with all of the obstacles he faced. Paul’s story started with him being an oppressor and persecutor of Christians. However, after an encounter with Jesus (Acts 9) his life shifted to a different direction. His mission became to bring the message of the gospel (salvation through Jesus Christ) to the Gentiles (non-Jews). Paul knew that he would eventually end up in Rome to preach (Acts 23:11) and that he would stand before Caesar (Acts 27:24). He pressed on to finish until he reached those goals.

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:14 (NLT)

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:7 NLT

God and His Son Jesus are finishers

God, Himself, is and was a finisher. He always finishes what He starts and so did Jesus, even to the point of death.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34 (NIV)

“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” John 17:4 (NIV)

“Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, ‘I am thirsty.’” John 19:28 (NLT)

“When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.” John 19:30 (NLT)

Scriptures that encourage to finish what you start:

“Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.” 2 Corinthians 8:11 (NLT)

“Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.” Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NLT)

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’” Luke 14:28-30 (NLT)

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

“For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” Hebrews 3:14 (NLT)

Take Some Practical Steps to Finish What You Start:

• First, don’t waste time on useless projects and/or start off in many directions.

This is probably the most important strategy. Make up your mind ahead of time to finish what you start, and only start something that you are able to finish. Start one task, preferably something that is a priority and worthwhile. Stay focused on that task until you finish it, and don’t let other tasks distract you until you complete the task at hand. Set your mind, and keep it set!

“An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.” Proverbs 17:24 (GNT)

“A hard-working farmer has plenty to eat, but it is stupid to waste time on useless projects.” Proverbs 12:11 (GNT)

“And set your minds and keep them set…” Colossians 3:2a (AMPC)

• Next, make a to-do list or set a reminder if you get distracted with other things that need to be done.

Having a running to-do list will lessen the possibility of veering off on distractions. Maybe consider leaving a notepad on your counter or starting a to-do list or utilizing a reminders app on your phone. When you encounter something else that you need to do, instead of leaving one unfinished task to start another, add that additional item to a running list. Then go back to the task at hand to finish that first.

• Then, persevere. Don’t give up. You CAN finish what you start!

Remember the examples in scripture, the opposition they faced, and the difficulty of many of their tasks. Yet, they endured and persevered. You can too! If they did it, so can you. The same power that was in them resides in you.

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:19 (NLT)

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 (NLT)

• As the devotion prompted…Attempt to list out all the activities that you have started and are planning on finishing and make a renewed effort to do so.

• Finally, remember that winning is not always finishing first. Sometimes winning is just finishing.

Don’t forget the lesson in the fable of The Tortoise & the Hare! It’s not always the speed but the finish.

Do you relate to this message of being able to finish what you start? Share some of your “wins” with us by leaving a comment below!

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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

1. Chelladurai, Rajiv. “Spiritual Laws of Progression-Day 9 Finish What Has Been Started.” Bible.com, YouVersion, www.bible.com/reading-plans/2149-spiritual-laws-of-progression/day/9. ↑