Discipleship-Focused – Notes

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Finishing Well

Can you imagine anything better than finishing well and having these words of Jesus ring in your ears throughout all eternity? “Well done, good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, ESV).

It sounds wonderful, but it can be a challenge. Of the 2,930 people mentioned in the Bible, we know significant details of only one hundred. And of those one hundred, only about one-third finished well. Most of the other two-thirds failed in the second half of their lives.

In your journey with the Lord, it’s not how you start that matters. It’s how you finish. The Christian life isn’t a hundred-meter dash; it’s a marathon. Long races don’t require speed; they require determination and finishing power — fixing our eyes on the prize and finishing well.

Paul illustrates this from his own experience. “. . . one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

Challenges to Finishing Well

To finish well, we need to invest our life to its fullest in serving Christ during our time on earth. To help us, we will address some of the most common reasons that followers of Christ do not finish well.

Discontentment

All too often, people are discontented with their lifestyles. First Timothy 6:8 issues this challenging statement: “If we have food and covering (clothes and shelter), with these we shall be content.” Our culture has restated this verse to read, “If you can afford the finest food, wear the latest fashions, drive the newest automobiles, play with all the most up-to-date electronic gadgets, and live in a beautiful home, then you will be happy.” Our consumption-oriented society operates on the assumptions that more is always better and that happiness is based on acquiring.

The word “contentment” is mentioned six times in Scripture, and five times it has to do with money. Paul wrote, “. . . I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13, NASB1995).

Take note that Paul learned to be content. It wasn’t automatic. It wasn’t a slam dunk. Contentment didn’t suddenly show up after Paul received Christ as his Savior. The fact is, none of us are born intuitively content; rather, we learn contentment.

Biblical contentment is an inner peace that accepts what God has chosen for our present vocation, station in life, and financial situation. Hebrews 13:5 emphasizes this: “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you’” (NASB1995).

Coveting

Coveting means to crave another person’s property, and it is prohibited throughout the Bible. The last of the Ten Commandments reads, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17, NASB1995). Note the broad application: “or ANYTHING that belongs to your neighbor.” In other words, we are commanded not to covet anything that belongs to anyone!

Greed is similar to coveting. “But do not let . . . greed even be mentioned among you . . . Certainly you are aware of this: No immoral, impure, or greedy person — such a person is an idolater — has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, who is God” (Ephesians 5:3,5, EHV). A greedy or covetous person is identified as an idolater.

Coveting and greed are among the most widespread sins of today. When I began studying what the Bible taught about money, I was overwhelmed by the extent of my own coveting. Ask the Lord to show you if you are guilty of coveting that which is another’s. If so, ask the Lord to change your heart.

Comparison

Some use comparison with others to justify spending more than they should. Many have suffered financially because they tried — but could not afford — to “keep up with the Joneses.” Someone once said, “You can never keep up with the Joneses. Just about the time you’ve caught them, they go deeper in debt to buy more stuff!”

Lifestyle

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world—this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs” (AMP). We live in the most affluent culture in the history of the world, where we are constantly bombarded with manipulative advertising to prompt us to spend money. Advertisers usually stress the importance of image rather than function. For example, automobile ads rarely focus on a car as reliable, economic transportation. Instead, they project an image of status or sex appeal.

No matter what the product — clothing, deodorants, you name it — the message is communicated that the fulfilling, beautiful, wrinkle-free life can be ours if we are willing to buy it. Unfortunately, to some extent this media onslaught has influenced all of us. Author George Fooshee so aptly states, “People buy things they do not need with money they do not have to impress people they do not even like.” .”

Now Is the Time!

The financial crisis of 2008 and the Coronavirus pandemic that engulfed the entire globe, made it clear that the economies of the world are more fragile than most people imagine. 

We plead with you to become diligent in your efforts to get out of debt, give generously, budget, save and work as unto the Lord. In short, become a faithful steward. One of the best ways to demonstrate your love for your family and friends is to get your financial house in order and encourage others to do the same.

Thank you for spending this time with us. In closing, I’d like to leave you with a few thoughts that have been powerful motivators for me.

Nothing on this planet comes close to knowing Jesus Christ and living a life that pleases Him.

Leave your mistakes behind.

Be courageous.

Stay focused on Christ.

Never give up.

Jesus finished well when He said, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4, NIV).

Paul finished well when he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Our prayer is that you will finish well, too. That you will complete the task the Lord has given you so that you will hear these words ring in your ears throughout eternity: “Well done, good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, ESV).