How will you finish?

70% of all leaders will not finish well. J. Robert Clinton

It's not sexy. It really doesn't sell anything. I don't think Beyonce will ever write a song about it. I am most certain Donald Trump will have an opinion about it. Most people who are successful at this are never noticed, most often disrespected by those who want to continue in their wrongdoing and secretly envied by almost everyone. What am I talking about?

Accountability. Finishing well.

God longs for us to embrace accountability and finish well. There's no doubt about it. I believe God wants us to be effective Spirit-filled leaders that pave the way for unprecedented success. The Bible is filled with story after story about how to be successful both here and now and in the hereafter. There are narrative outlines for leaders, administrators, and government officials in Genesis and throughout most of Paul's letters to local churches. God provides line by line 'how-to's' on being successful in both the Old and New Testaments from Leviticus to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters five through seven. The book of Proverbs clearly outlines how to make wise decisions personally and professionally. Overall success is often the secondary benefit of being an effective accountable leader in the Kingdom of God. God longs for us to have a good life. But, sadly many people never experience the exhilarating fullness and fall miserably short content to live a small insignificant life.

Stop making excuses.

Why do so many people fail? As you can imagine, the reasons people fail are complex. But here are a few ideas to think about:

1. Money. It's not inherently evil. It's meant to be a blessing. But try and take away what people earn, save or invest and see what happens.
2. Sex. It's meant to be a blessing in marriage. However, deviation from its God-defined purpose causes heartbreak, legal issues and ultimately disaster.
3. Power. Ironically, God's power is displayed in our weakness. Command-control is not God's established style of leadership but he does bless servant leaders. Servant leaders recognize their vital contribution as they participate in a grander vision greater than themselves.
4. Pride. Selfish ambition is the downfall for many and is often recognized too late. Self-preservation is the other side of that coin. Our actions can speak louder than words. Notice the beneficiaries or the outcomes of decisions you make to help discern whether or not you're the type of leader God blesses.

One step at a time.

There's no shortcut. We have to do the hard thing over and over again. Truly seasoned leaders understand the real struggle is internal. They understand the wrestling match within and will often do the hard thing first even if only to get it out of the way. They do the hard thing regardless of personal cost. Accountability means we can be responsible for our attitudes, decisions and actions. It's also the most practical weapon in the integrity war. Watch your life and what you believe closely. Imagine the end of your life years from now. Set the goal of finishing well with more passion for God and his Kingdom goals than you have today. Write it down and share it with trusted Christian friends who share your vision for a fantastic finish. Don't settle for the default. Engage in all God has for you.

I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

The Patience of Our Master

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:1-NLT

I confess. I could never be a master craftsman or a great artist. I just don't have what it takes. I appreciate the immeasurable love and intense patience of a master. I can recognize the exceptional handiwork of creating great works of art. But, quite frankly, the creation of one masterpiece is a painstakingly long arduous process. It's kind of like becoming a Christian disciple. I am painfully aware of the love and patience of the Master. He consistently discovers new ways to reveal his unconditional love and grace toward us. Paul's letters to the early churches may help us discover how much attention needs to be given to the Master's handcrafted efforts and his repeated creative attempts to communicate, influence and even drag us toward his inspired Kingdom goals.

Division was a major problem in the early church especially in Rome, Galatia and Corinth.

The Christ followers of Corinth were given an abundance of spiritual gifts but they lacked the Christian character the Holy Spirit longed to form in them. The Apostle Paul took quick action to try to head off the potential troubles. Right off the bat, Paul recognized there were factions within the Corinthian church. Each group followed its chosen human leader, exercised their spiritual gifts selfishly and cared very little about how their behavior affected the whole body--the church. Paul masterly challenged the believers to consider their standards of wisdom and foolishness. He reminded the Corinthians that God chose to work through human frailty or limitation. He chose the foolish and weak people to build his glorious church. Not because they were so wise, wonderful or gifted but because He was a Master Craftsman creating a living work of art for the ages.

Spiritual maturity is the mark of a growing Christian.

As we mature in Christ, we understand and gain a better appreciation for the Church as Christ’s Body and our role to participate as Christians. The Church is a global network that influences the expansion of technology, the use of natural resources, the enhancement of geographical boundaries, local culture & governmental authority. The church is an organization of massive quantitative and qualitative size. Pew Report (2010) states 2.2 billion Christians in the world (31%). The church also has vast financial, land and other property holdings which include some of the great works of art, music and ancient manuscripts. The church's wins and losses are public and recorded. The church continues to stand the test of time with its longevity credited to a living-breathing Master craftsman whose workmanship can be seen in those who initiated it 2,000 years ago and continue to work in it today. The church withstands insult, injury, leadership issues, scandal and opposition. (You can access more information from Pew Research here.)

Spiritual gifts are given by God for the benefit of the whole church.

The Apostle Paul instructed the early Christians that God is the source for the church. He equips the saints for ministry via the Holy Spirit and develops the spiritual gifts within Christ followers for the building up of his community. Christians have different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit, different ministries but the same Lord. There are different activities but the same God who produces all of them. All Christians have the Gift (Holy Spirit) and at least one spiritual gift but all Christians are expected to live out the life of spiritual grace and produce fruit of the Spirit. Diversity is a wonderful thing. It is the evidence of God at work. However, if diversity is not kept under control, it will destroy unity and we have anarchy. Diversity promotes dependence upon each other and our spiritual maturity is a balance between unity and diversity.

I confess. I don't have what it takes to be a great craftsman or artist. The truth is I don't need to be one. But, my one hope, is that I might be a servant worthy to sweep up the wood shavings on the floor or be present as a brush stroke apprehends the canvas revealing a beauty yet to take shape. Maybe that's what the Master is trying to encourage in us as we grow and mature as his servants. Our maturity is not weighed out so much in achievement but how we love one another as Christ loved us.

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Mother Theresa

Whose authority do you live under?

Jesus is Lord! That was the first century creed often passed in secret because of the intense consequences it held for those who professed it openly. The statement has become a statement of belief and an affirmation for Jesus' position in our daily lives. If Jesus is Lord of your life, he has the position of authority. You live under his authority. The biblical word used to describe the dynamic way to live with the Lordship of Jesus Christ is 'stewardship.'

Stewardship can be defined as one employed in a large household or estate to manage domestic concerns such as the supervision of servants, the collection of rents and the keeping of accounts. The steward is not the master but the master entrusts the management of the wealth and resources to the steward. If you think about it, stewardship applies to everything you are, have and will become. Stewardship applies to your material possessions, time, spiritual gifts, body and the way you live your life. If Jesus is really Lord of your life, he is the master and you are entrusted to be his manager.

It's totally natural to think of your possessions as your own. After all, you worked for them or inherited them from someone else, right? But, we've just established that Jesus is Lord. The bible contrasts our natural beliefs with supernatural truths. God is the owner of everything. You and I are managers of a little or a lot. God appointed humanity to manage the earth and its resources immediately after creation. I like the way Eugene Peterson writes the story from The Message because he makes it crystal clear that on day six God said, "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill the earth! Take charge! Be responsible for the fish of the sea and birds of the air, for every living thing that moves on the earth. Then God said, "I've given you...." God is the owner of all he created. He put you in charge of a portion of it.

Effective stewardship must be learned. We don't automatically know how to effectively manage God's resources. Scripture, mature Christ followers and the Christian community can help us learn the essentials so we can become faithful stewards. So, are you wondering how you can become entrusted with more of God's resources?

1. The principle of faithful tithing. God says return 10% to the house of God for use in worship and service. The tithe is holy and belongs to the Lord.
2. The principle of sound management. God owns the other 90% of everything we have. It is our responsibility to manage it wisely.
3. The principle of generous giving. Generosity affirms the blessing and freedom of giving. Prosperity can be an affirmation from God as you are trusted with greater responsibility.
4. The principle of effective management. Accountability, transparency, communication and gratitude shape our God-honoring management capacity, capabilities and skills.

We live in a selfish materialistic world. The Church can be influenced by its powerful messages and tempted to follow worldly management styles. God is the owner of the resources. He's far more capable to educate us as to how he wants his resources managed. Relax for a minute and think about how you manage the resources God has entrusted to you. Your holdings may be small or vast. Think and pray about how you can become a more effective manager of God's ultimate resources because the exciting truth is the more we can be trusted the more visible the Kingdom of God will become.

 “Wonderful!” his master replied. “You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!”  Matthew 25:21 CEV

Who may be waiting to hear your story?

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 16:16 NIV

Influence

Christianity began as a small group of people who followed a Rabbi. The small group of people told stories about their Rabbi to their families and friends. They invited others to come and investigate their Rabbi for themselves. More followers of the Rabbi were created and sent out to tell their story. The followers of the Rabbi spoke to people in the surrounding villages, along roadsides and as they visited the cosmopolitan center of Judaism, Jerusalem. They didn't stop in Jerusalem. They expanded their influence through Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

The Rabbi's early followers wanted others to know how life could be different. They wanted others to know the freedom, power and grace they could experience even in the presence of the dominant world power of the Roman Empire. The perilous early days of Christianity were filled with persecution. But, the explosive growth of Christianity is credited to a pattern of disciple making. The pattern emerged through the conscientious selection of other like-minded Christians to equip others to influence the world for the Kingdom of God.

It's about multiplication.

Jesus is our leader and supreme example of how to influence and invite others to follow him. He selected individuals and invested his life into them over a period of time. Peter, James and John represent Jesus' inner circle. They experienced Jesus' miraculous power, love and forgiveness first-hand. Jesus also invested personally in the lives of nine other disciples. The twelve, also known as the Apostles, were his witnesses and the Church was founded upon their intense commitment and leadership. Jesus entrusted seventy-two leaders with the special task to minister in pairs to the regions of the Roman Empire villages.

There were 120 believers gathered in the Upper room when the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost. They were faithful followers and became equipped by the power of the Holy Spirit to do great things for God's kingdom. Large crowds followed Jesus and then the disciples. However, large crowds were not the central focus of Jesus. Jesus poured his time, teaching and patience into a small group of followers that they might influence others to reach the broken world with a message of hope and reconciliation through knowing Jesus Christ.

From simple believer to a connected, devoted and generous follower

Real Kingdom change occurs when followers of Jesus take their role of disciple making seriously. Obedience isn't a word many of us like but it is crucial when working for God to meet his goals and purposes. Consider who taught you the foundations of our Christian faith and coached you to grow from a simple believer to become a disciple of Jesus. Who may be waiting to hear your story? Who may need your special type of mentoring or coaching? Who could benefit from hearing about the power, love and forgiveness Jesus offers right now? The result will be that God is glorified and we produce the fruit that will last. Pay attention to the investments you make this week in the people close to you. May you decide to make a personal investment in someone that produces eternal results.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15