When Am I Finished?
Dear Friends,
Life’s hectic pace can make it frustrating to reach the end of a long day and rather than feel a sense of accomplishment, you feel overwhelmed by the work that has to be done tomorrow, not to mention the nagging feeling that you should be spending more quality time with your spouse, family and friends. Yes, sometimes we all feel like the gerbil on a spinning wheel, running and running and never getting anywhere.
But is that really what’s happening in our lives?
As long as we remain steadfast followers of the path God has laid before us, every day we touch people in deep, meaningful ways, sometimes intentionally and often without even realizing it. When we carefully listen to our clients and pray with them for God’s guiding hand, we are reaching those around us with a message of hope and faith that goes to their very core. The advice and counsel we offer as a trusted advisor can lead to lasting Kingdom impact. When we volunteer our time to coach a little league team or make sure we attend our children’s school play, we are investing in their future by showing them what it means to have a loving, involved, caring parent.
Did you ever stop for a moment and consider all the people you interact with even momentarily? You have the opportunity to live out God’s plan at those times, too! You might simply hold open a door for someone entering your office building. Or let another car turn onto the road before you. Or take an extra two minutes at the grocery store to purchase canned food to drop at the local homeless shelter.
It’s like the popular concept of “paying it forward,” the notion that good deeds done to help another person shouldn’t be “paid back,” but rather should serve as motivation for them to do a good deed for someone else. This spreads exponentially through society, creating a social movement with the goal of making the world a better place. Sometimes little things really mean a lot to someone else, even if they don’t mean a lot to you.
Through your everyday actions you are living out God’s message, showing what it means to be a Christian by serving others in ways large and small. Although you may never know how your actions have changed a life, remember the Biblical examples of Moses, David and Jesus who did not live to see the ultimate, lasting and timeless impact of their life’s work.
Recall a time when someone did a good deed that impacted you in a meaningful way, and encouraged you to continue living out God’s plan by serving others. Share a story and inspire your colleagues to keep “paying it forward.”
Blessings,
Ron
Excellent comments. I have found that when my need for accomplishment and or recognition in a ministry becomes more important than my faithfulness to fulfill that ministry, then it is clear I have made the ministry more about me than about finding and fulfilling my place in God's larger story. On the other hand, seeing my calling or ministry as "His calling" gives me the freedom to walk away whenever He tells me my time is done, without feelings of guilt or failure.
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Ron's words, once again, have the impact of focused encouragement and the soothing effect of settling me down at the same time. I truly believe he is ispired of the Holy Spirit!
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I just read and listened to "When Am I Finished?" by Ron Blue. His words of encouragement are timely for my life and work. Thank you very much for continuing to minister to Kingdom advisors.
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Thanks Ron,
Until recently I was always concerned that I wasn`t doing enough for the Kingdom. I have always been a results and actions oriented person. I felt guilty if I didn`t get a positive result. But since I have been into my daily Bible study and Prayer, I finally realized that God`s definition of success and ours is not the same.
Your observations and several minutes explanations just reaffirmed my beliefs and I again thank you for them.
This has been one of your finest Shine Throughs and I look forward to many more.
Bless you and Kingdom Advisors!
John T. Carr
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Years ago while traveling in India, I toured a small shop and found an old man intricately carving a detailed procession into a very large ivory tusk. I asked him if he thought he would live to finish it. "No" was his answer. He wasn't even slightly concerend that he wouldn't finish it. He knew, however, that it would be finished by someone. Perhaps other faiths, too, speak to our small contributions to such enormous tasks. No matter our personal contribution, we all contribute equally according to our abilities and time constraints in the eye of God.
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After hearing this broadcast it has given me hope that I can continue with the work that GOD has given me to do for this season of life and know that it is up to HIM to see it through.
Thanks
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