Finishing well
I recently spent several days at a conference with sixty other Pastors. This particular conference is one of my favorites because we simply get together to learn from one another, encourage one another and help one another be the best Pastors we can possibly be.
As most of you know, from following the evening news, it’s not unusual these days for many in the ministry to mess up. Scandals like Ted Haggard’s recent fall are unfortunately far from uncommon. The respect that once came simply from being “clergy,” at the very least is now tainted.
At the end of the conference, we honored two men who will be retiring this year from the churches they have been leading. Both of them have been in ministry for more than forty years. We honored these two Pastors for finishing well. For staying faithful to their wives. For keeping their hands off the money. For being men of integrity.
As a husband, a father, a Pastor, my deepest desire is to finish well. So, I’ve surrounded myself with close friends who really know me. Friends who aren’t afraid to ask me difficult questions. Friends who love me enough to say hard things to me.
God says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one friends sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) Do you have friends in your life who are “sharpening” you? Do you have friends who will help you “finish well?” Are you willing to invite people into your life and allow them to know you at an intimate level?
Building the kind of relationships, that in my opinion, make life worth living can be difficult. Relationships take time, energy and grace. Sometimes they’re painful. Sometimes they’re messy. Sometimes they’re just downright hard. But in the long run, if these relationships help us stay faithful to our spouses, handle money with integrity, be the kind of people that others want to emulate, then the work and pain and messiness is worth it.
It really comes down to how highly we value finishing well.
As most of you know, from following the evening news, it’s not unusual these days for many in the ministry to mess up. Scandals like Ted Haggard’s recent fall are unfortunately far from uncommon. The respect that once came simply from being “clergy,” at the very least is now tainted.
At the end of the conference, we honored two men who will be retiring this year from the churches they have been leading. Both of them have been in ministry for more than forty years. We honored these two Pastors for finishing well. For staying faithful to their wives. For keeping their hands off the money. For being men of integrity.
As a husband, a father, a Pastor, my deepest desire is to finish well. So, I’ve surrounded myself with close friends who really know me. Friends who aren’t afraid to ask me difficult questions. Friends who love me enough to say hard things to me.
God says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one friends sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) Do you have friends in your life who are “sharpening” you? Do you have friends who will help you “finish well?” Are you willing to invite people into your life and allow them to know you at an intimate level?
Building the kind of relationships, that in my opinion, make life worth living can be difficult. Relationships take time, energy and grace. Sometimes they’re painful. Sometimes they’re messy. Sometimes they’re just downright hard. But in the long run, if these relationships help us stay faithful to our spouses, handle money with integrity, be the kind of people that others want to emulate, then the work and pain and messiness is worth it.
It really comes down to how highly we value finishing well.
posted by Greg Nettle at 8:24 AM
3 Comments:
I pray for you.
Stay strong. We are so good at forgeting the fact that planet earth is a battleground for the souls of men. I think there is no greater moment of evil happiness for satan than when one of the spiritual warriors riding out in front of the troops falls down. Bravo for the warrior friends surrounding you shouting "hell?..NO!" you can't have Greg.
Happy are people of integrity, who follow the Lord. Happy are those who obey His decrees and search for Him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistantly reflect your principles! Then I would not be digraced when I compare my life with your commands. When I learn your rightous laws, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your priciples. Please don't give up on me.
Psalms 119:1-8
God's word repeatedly exprsses to us life is a hard fought battle.... I've been praying this to back to God lately and putting it to memory. I've talked about it with my friends and those nearest to me. I am especially glad I can continually say to my heavenly father, PLEASE DON"T GIVE UP ON ME.
Great message and reminder! Thanks!
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