Finishing Well: From Microscopic To Macroscopic

I have a new appreciation for the fact life is a marathon, not a 100-yard dash. If you asked me what is the most influential teaching I have heard in the last 10 years, I would reply, “The concept of finishing well.”

One thousand leaders are mentioned by name in the Bible. One hundred are discussed in some detail, either from the beginning, middle, or end of their lives. Fifty of those are portrayed in more detail; but, of those 50, only 1 in 3 finished well. The statistics are daunting; but, if 1 in 3 were able to finish well, then it is possible, and I need to strive to do the same. What does it mean to finish well? Simply stated, it is serving Jesus, influencing people for the Kingdom, and experiencing a vibrant personal relationship with God at the end of your life. It is an accumulated sense of accomplished destiny.

Deuteronomy 17:14–20 records Moses retelling God’s promise that in the future (500 years), the Israelites would be in the Promised Land. Once there, they would become jealous of other nations; and, in an attempt to be like them, they would ask for a king. Though those through whom this prophetic insight would be fulfill were yet to be born, this message foretold the lives of kings Saul, David, and Solomon. While these names are renowned throughout Scripture, all who know the details of their lives are aware of their shortcomings. Whether it was the abuse of power, sexuality, plateauing leadership, family, money, or pride, none of them finished well.

Today, investigators report that there is a significant dropout rate after the first 5 years in full-time ministry. I read that there are 19,000 Protestant pastors in Australia, and another 19,000 who were once church leaders but are no longer in active service. Though there may be legitimate reasons for their inactivity, many of them may no longer be in ministry because one of the temptations listed in Deuteronomy 17 has snared them.

What does a pastor need to do to finish well in his service to King Jesus? In my experience I have found it is important to honestly evaluate my strengths and weaknesses. We need God’s grace and mercy to pick us up when we fall short, but there are also ways we can focus our lives on God and our work for His kingdom. By practicing the spiritual disciplines of solitude, silence, study, fasting, prayer, and meditation, we give room for God to deposit His strength into our lives. Practicing these disciplines requires personal accountability. It is wise to be mentored by others. By having 10 to 15 people who can speak honestly to us, the community of believers can join us in our quest to finish well.

Since the early days of my Christian faith, a paradigm shift has occurred in my ministerial perspective. My thinking has been transformed from a microscopic to a macroscopic view of life. I wish I had developed this view 30 years ago. A doing-to-being shift in how I approach ministry has allowed me to experience ministry that comes out of my relationship with Jesus. Changing from an immediate view of life to living life in perspective has meant that my walk with God is motivated by the desire to finish well.

It is difficult to quantify how successful each life is. Only by discovering what God wants each of us to do with our life will we find true success. Unlike my early years of ministry, I hope young pastors can learn from other’s mistakes, and that their personal worth does not come from their productivity but from who they are in Jesus and what He has done for them.

Robert L. Gallagher, Ph.D., assistant professor of Intercultural Studies, Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, Illinois.