Question 1

Why is finishing what I begin important?

Accepted Answer

Ecclesiastes 5:5It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.Luke 14:30“They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!”’If we don’t finish doing what we have said we would do, we hurt our reputation.Ecclesiastes 7:8Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.Following through helps us develop patience and humility in our character.John 4:34Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.”John 17:4“I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”When we finish what God has given us to do, we will experience blessing, and God will receive glory.1 Corinthians 9:24Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!Those who finish are the ones who are rewarded.Proverbs 25:14A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.James 5:12Most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.We should be people who keep our promises. Thus, if we say we will do something, we should do it.Galatians 6:9-10So 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. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.We should continue to do all the good assignments and tasks we are given. We may become tired or discouraged, but our work will result in blessing for us and for others.

Question 2

What things are better left unfinished?

Accepted Answer

1 Chronicles 27:24Joab son of Zeruiah began the census but never finished it because the anger of God fell on Israel. The total number was never recorded in King David’s official records.If what we are doing is clearly against God’s will, we should leave it unfinished.Genesis 11:8The Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city.We should not finish something we should never have started!Leviticus 5:4“Or suppose you make a foolish vow of any kind, whether its purpose is for good or for bad. When you realize its foolishness, you must admit your guilt.”If we have promised to do something that would be sinful or foolish, we should confess it and find a way to be free of that promise.James 1:14-16Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.If we are tempted and begin to be led astray, we should stop and learn our lesson from the experience. Giving in to sinful temptations can have disastrous consequence for ourselves and for others.

Question 3

What tasks should we always finish?

Accepted Answer

Numbers 30:1-2Moses summoned the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.”Deuteronomy 23:21-23“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.”Ecclesiastes 5:4When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him.We should always follow through and keep our righteous promises to God, fulfilling all our vows.Galatians 6:9-10So 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. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.We can tire, physically and emotionally, in any challenging task. But we should not allow those feelings to push us to give up and quit. Instead, we should continue doing the work God has given us, even when it is difficult or unpleasant. We should never stop doing good.

Question 4

What does God want me to finish?

Accepted Answer

Acts 20:24“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”God has called his people to spread the gospel of Christ—that is our assignment. And fulfilling and finishing this work is a lifetime task.Malachi 3:10“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”2 Corinthians 8:10-11Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 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.Paul was encouraging the Corinthian believers to fulfill their financial pledges. God’s work in the world—building the community of faith, helping people in need, spreading the Good News—need the support of God’s people to flourish. Our tithes and offerings should continue, even when our income is reduced.2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.Like the apostle Paul, we should finish the race—always faithful to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Question 5

How do I know when something important is actually finished?

Accepted Answer

Luke 14:28-30“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!’”In talking to the crowd about the cost of being his disciple, Jesus used this illustration about a builder running out of money. We should work hard to finish all the work assigned to us, but we should always count the cost before undertaking any project, so we won’t fail to complete the work and look foolish.Philippians 1:6I 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.The most important tasks will never be finished before we die because they are lifetime callings. And with some, we will not know the result during this life for a variety of factors. But God knows, so we should trust him and the good work he is doing in us and in the world.Proverbs 22:6Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.The most important task for Christian parents is to instruct, train, and guide their children to follow Christ and do what is right. We won’t know the ultimate result of our work here, but we must do what we should and trust God for the outcome.

Question 6

Will I ever really finish my calling here on earth?

Accepted Answer

Ezra 10:4“Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”Proverbs 24:27Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.Ecclesiastes 3:1-2For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.During our lives, God gives us many tasks to accomplish, which may include helping people with critical needs, rearing children, serving for a term in a church position or on the mission field. Those assignments have end dates, and we should complete them and end them well.Hebrews 12:1-3Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.God’s ultimate work for us on earth is to live fully for him for as long as we live, knowing that our ultimate reward awaits us after death—an eternity with him. Thus, our work on earth will only be finished when we die.

Question 7

How do I come to peace with things I can’t finish?

Accepted Answer

Ezekiel 3:10-11Then he added, “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first. Listen to them carefully for yourself. Then go to your people in exile and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ Do this whether they listen to you or not.”God gave Ezekiel a difficult assignment—to give his message to the people. Ezekiel was to do this regardless of the response: “Do this whether they listen to you or not.” At times we won’t get the results we hope for when carrying out God’s will. We may even get ignored, rejected, or persecuted. But he wants us to faithfully discharge our assignments and trust him for the results.1 Corinthians 3:6-8I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.God has tasked is people with spreading his Good News—that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We hope, of course, that some will respond, especially our loved ones. But Paul reminds us that God is the one who “makes the seed grow.” Because the ultimate results of our work for God are up to him, we can be at peace, even when we feel as though we have not finished the job.

Question 8

Should I pursue my assignments at the cost of my family and health?

Accepted Answer

1 Timothy 5:8Those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.Unfortunately, some people sacrifice their health and even their families as they pursue a career or goal. Sometimes, in fact, these endeavors may be Christian-oriented (youth worker, pastor, missionary, or evangelist). We may think that because we are doing God’s work, he will take care of the rest. But God has given us the holy responsibility of caring for ourselves and our families. No goal or project, no matter how big and important, is worth that cost.

Question 9

Are there times when I should quit something?

Accepted Answer

Romans 13:13-14Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.1 Corinthians 10:31So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.Colossians 3:17Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.Everything we do should be done for God’s glory because all glory belongs to him and because we represent him on earth. So we should never quit any assignment that he has given to us. But we should stop doing—quit—any work or activity that diminishes his glory, especially those that lead to sin or are sinful in themselves.