I tend to be a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of guy. My personality is such that I like to live life loosely. What's happening tomorrow? I'll find out when I get there. What do I do to prepare for the future? I'll make it up as I go. There are times when this personality trait of mine comes in really handy. It keeps me flexible; it keeps me able to adjust; it keeps me from being OBE (Overcome By Events). It also keeps me in debt, drives the people who are depending on me crazy, and ensures I miss out on really neat events, concerts, and other happenings in life. I've learned to counter my flexible personality with some planning, and realizing when I can be "loose" and when I need to tighten it up. It really comes down to finishing well whatever task I've been handed, whether it's a project at work or it's being the best husband I can be to my wife. But, what does "finishing well" even look like?
Finishing well really means one thing to me--I have safeguarded the reputation of my God and myself among insiders and outsiders. We all know those people who bring ill-repute upon their institutions and bosses, whether they be pastors, teachers, or CEOs. I seek to glorify the "Big Boss," so that my actions as a Christ-follower reflect well upon Him. I desire that others watching my actions as a husband, a father, an employee, an officer, a military member, a pastor, etc., think more highly of God then they did before. This can be easy to see. There's publicity, awards, recognition, accolades, greater responsibility, and so on.
The hardest part of finishing well is safeguarding the reputation of my God and myself with those INSIDE the organization. If my reputation is poor among those who work most closely with me (or live most closely to me), then I have dishonored God's reputation, regardless of what outsiders see. How would one know? If they party AFTER my departure, my reputation is poor. If they subversively go around my leadership, my reputation is poor. If they laugh about me behind my back, my reputation is poor. If what I am asking of those inside the organization is seen as petty, excessive, burdensome, or just unnecessary, my reputation is poor. If my reputation is poor among those inside of the organization, then I am reflecting poorly on God's reputation.
Finishing well is about reputation. It's about what those who watch me from afar and those who work/live with me daily think about me. Most importantly, it's what they think about my God. I seek to hear, "Well done, you good and faithful servant."
