by Rick Ciaramitaro
Blessings my friends,
Over the last 47 years of ministry there has been many messages I have heard that greatly impacted my life, but one that seems to stand out in this season of my life is called “Finishing Well, maybe it’s because i will be hitting 70 this year. Whatever your age, Wherever you’re at and what ever you’re doing for God today should always have a direction and a pathway outlined to Finish Well.
One of the most familiar books in the Bible that I read often are the 5 fold ministry Epistles, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and last few years James. These Epistles were given to help each one of us to Finish Well. Studying them over and over for the last 40 years of Pastoring has helped to keep me from the various winds of new teaching, weird doctrines, tangents and chasing this one or that one. Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:6-10-For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.NKJ. Interesting how he knew his departure was at hand, how he was to “fight the good fight of faith”, and he had finished the race, kept the faith - to me that is “Finishing Well”. But what’s very interesting is the very next verse that speaks about The Abandoned Apostle - “Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia”. I am sure that one of the reasons Paul was Finishing well was that when blows came his way “he stayed sweet in spite of the sour”. In ministry my friends it’s often the leaders closest to you that can cause the greatest hard aches and pains.
They can affect you incredibly in a negative way if you allow it. As Leaders it’s not an option but imperative to Guard our hearts. For out of it flows the issues of life. 1 Timothy 6:20-21- “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen”. Guard what was entrusted to you not what was entrusted to others, and remember Competition and Comparison are the power twins of hell, be secure in who you are and what God has entrusted to you, as insecurity has disqualified many good leaders when the pressures of life come knocking on our doors. In the next article I will share the hooks the enemy of our souls brings to each one of us in various seasons of our life’s. But till then, Guard your heart on a Daily basis and let’s do life with and for Jesus.
Blessings
Dr Rick CIaramitaro