Do What You Promised To Do; Finish What You Start
As a long-time pastor and administrator, I'm regularly asked to give a few words of advice to young people. Based on my experience over the years, parents often ask me to write success pointers to a graduating son or daughter.
It's a privilege to have this opportunity, and I take it seriously. What do I traditionally offer?
What I've advised more than anything is the title of this column: Do what you promised to do; finish what you start. It's simple enough. And, if practiced, I have found time and again that this important character trait will gain you much favor with your peers, superiors, and even friends.
Perhaps you can relate. How many times have you become annoyed (or worse) with someone who was to meet you at a particular time or finish an assignment, only to be met with excuses, forgetfulness, misunderstanding and hard luck stories? With some, this becomes an irritating pattern of how they perform. Thus, a reputation is formed. I readily admit that with me, this type of reputation sometimes becomes the basis of my wishing to distance myself from such a person. Why? Self-protection. It's because of their unreliable performance habits that distracts, delays, and even hurts the work I'm doing. They don't follow through. They create extra work and unnecessary stress.
Thankfully we have a perfect example to follow. We can be profoundly thankful that one of God's powerful traits is His unwavering and reliable commitment to what He's doing in your life. As the apostle Paul writes, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6, New International Version, emphasis added throughout).
We can be thankful for this critical and personal truth: God is focused on making you a success as you cooperate with Him. We have the unbreakable biblical promise that He won't become distracted and "forget" about you, even as He may appear to move on to what may seem more pressing matters.
What I value in people with whom I work is their demonstrated commitment to a task and bringing it to completion. What about you? I experience great satisfaction in seeing a promise made and fulfilled.
In Jesus' parable of the two sons, He makes this point clear:
"A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to Him, 'The first'" (Matthew 21:28-31).
I invite you to consider this advice about how you may relate to others. It's biblical and practical and can help you sharpen your relationships and work.
In our free Bible study guides on the Web, I suggest that you review this article about commitment that shows the relationship between physical habits and Christian living. Just click on this link: www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-tips/commitment.htm. Let's all follow through and make our word good.
P.S.: I'd like to hear from you about what is the advice you give most to others from your life's experiences. Please write to me at victor_kubik@ucg.org.
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Victor Kubik
Active in the ministry of Jesus Christ for more than five decades, Victor Kubik is a long-time pastor and Christian writer. Together with his wife, Beverly, he has served in pastoral and administrative roles in churches and regions in the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa. He regularly contributes to Church publications and does a weekly podcast. He and his wife have also run a philanthropic mission since 1999.
He was named president of the United Church of God in May 2013 by the Church’s 12-man Council of Elders, and served in that role for nine years.
