By Caro March 25, 2022
Classic scenario: we are starting to clean our kitchen, and we get a call from a friend. An hour later, our cleaning has not progressed. Being able to finish what we undertake is nevertheless an essential asset for success.
Not finishing the cleaning of our kitchen is a shame, but it’s probably not a big deal. However, if we have this bad habit of being easily distracted, other much more important areas can suffer. We can miss great opportunities by not being where God wants to bless us. If we want success in our life, it is essential to develop the ability to finish what we undertake. That is biblical advice! “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 NKJV).
There are many reasons why we don’t complete our projects besides distractions. Sometimes we had underestimated the effort that our project requires or our ability to accomplish it. That is why Christ asks us to calculate the cost of our decisions before making them (Luke 14:28-30). But often, it is laziness, discouragement, or a lack of planning that prevents us from carrying out our projects. To eliminate these reasons, the Spirit of God promises us to be our inspiration, to give us His strength and His wisdom. So we have all the necessary tools to change this bad habit. Taking daily time in the Presence of God equips us to make the right decisions and prioritize what is truly important.
Our Heavenly Father finishes what He starts. He only rested after He finished His work of creation (Genesis 2:2), and He promised to finish His regenerating work in us. “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV). It is also the same determination that carried Christ to the cross, until He could say “it is finished” (John 19:30). The apostle Paul also was not discouraged by persecution (2 Timothy 4:7), and Noah did not give up on the immensity of the task (Genesis 7:5).
During your dating time, this is also an important point to assess in your partner. What is their level of determination when they undertake a project? If your partner is easily discouraged or easily distracted, if they spend more time playing than working, they will not change after the wedding! Are you ready to live with this? If your better half undertakes thousands of projects, because they want to “help” others, that will not change when you are married. Are you ready to always be invaded by demands? Discuss it right away: your partner may recognize their weakness and have a desire to change. So now is the time to choose the tools you are going to take to help the other person to change. But also be prepared to live with this weakness if the change does not come. If their bad habits irritate you while you’re dating, you’ll explode with anger after a few years of marriage. It’s a huge red flag!