Do you struggle to take care of business and get essential things done? Also, is it easier for you to begin a project than it is to finish it?

If so, I want to encourage you today, because your work ethic (which includes finishing things; finishing what you start) is a big key to divine advancement! And today, in Part 8 of our series 9 Keys to Divine Advancement, we will look at how your success may just be wrapped up in the tasks you need to get done, or in that one unfinished project!

First, let’s talk about work ethic.

People in our modern world face some challenges that past generations did not have to face. This especially applies to young people.

In prior generations, technology wasn’t such an issue. Most of the devices we use today on a daily basis did not exist, and therefore much of the entertainment we depend on today did not exist.

So, in the absence of the plethora of entertainment and technology that exists today, people tended to grow up working hard. It was expected. I know that’s how I grew up; we worked from daylight to dark.

However, I see a different trend in many of the people I deal with today.

Many people are so addicted to phones, video games, social media, et cetera that they can’t seem to find time for true hard work. Or people think that, as adults, getting a part-time job is sufficient–and somehow other people will make up the difference. Worse yet, I see it a lot that people have such an entitlement mindset that they think they deserve everything (or can obtain everything) without working for it.

But none of these mentalities are going to advance anyone forward. Friend, if we want to advance in life, we have to work.

The types of work that each of us are able to do will vary based on your abilities and aptitude.

However, we still each have to find work to do within our abilities. And we have to persevere in working, whether we feel like it or not on any given day.

I’m not talking about people who have medical conditions that keep them from working. If someone is undergoing treatment for cancer, or dialysis, or has broken a few bones, obviously those types of things are going to hinder normal daily activities. But what I’m talking about here is when people just don’t want to work.

Friend, if you are able-bodied, in my experience you need to be working at least eight hours a day, and maybe more, six days a week. The Bible says we should work six days and rest one day:

In Exodus 20:8-11, the Lord said:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”

And these instructions are present for a reason.

The most successful and wealthiest people I know are also the hardest workers.

People who are doing well in life got there because they worked hard to get there. They sustain their place in life by continuing to work hard. Even if they run the business, they still work hard. (Entrepreneurship is more difficult than working a 9-to-5 for someone else!) They work hard, they answer calls, they return messages as quickly as they can, and they work with excellence.

Yes, you have to juggle many things in order to work hard and succeed. But you can still do it, and you have to work hard if you want to succeed.

That doesn’t necessarily mean “working for the man.”

Getting a regular job is a great place to start. But on the side, while you get a regular job so you can feed your family–because the one who doesn’t take care of their family is worse than an unbeliever–you can start your business. Spend time every day, even if it’s just 15 minutes, building a business for yourself.

BUT, even while you work for someone else, use that time to gain valuable experience:

• Learn all you can about customer service, project management, budgeting, financial projections and forecasting, supply and demand, marketing, and business professionalism in general.
• Learn all the leadership skills you can possibly pick up.
• Develop an excellent spirit, like the prophet Daniel in the Bible had, and become the most valuable employee they have.

Basically, work as unto the Lord, and not unto men:

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV).

And if you will do that, then you will be making the most of your time in many ways. Not only are you supporting your family while you work a job, but you are also gaining essential skills that you will need in order to succeed in entrepreneurship later.

You can also use your job to save money so you will have a cushion to fall back on during hard times AND you will have your initial investment in your business ready when the time comes.

Beloved, we have to work hard in order to succeed and move forward in God.

This even applies to spiritual growth: in order to draw close to the Lord, we have to put in the work:

• Reading and studying your Bible on a daily basis, consuming it like the Bread of Life that it is (because the Word is the written form of Jesus, and Jesus is the Bread of Life);
• Putting in the hours of prayer;
• Doing the work and putting in the investment to go to classes and conferences, and retreats;
• Putting in the long hours to read books, go to church, and fellowship with other believers;
• Get mentored and grow on purpose; and so much more!

And again, I see too many people who want to walk in power; who want to be soaked in the anointing of Heaven; who desire to live holy lives and keep Jesus at the center of it all …

… but they aren’t willing to do the work it takes to get there. Yet, anyway. I hope that the Lord convicts each of us, myself included, to seek Him with all our hearts even more than ever before, even now as we read! 🙂 It’s never too late to begin seeking God; seek Him now, and you will find Him!

But in addition to putting in the work it takes to advance, friend, we also have to finish things.

And finishing things is a whole additional matter. Finishing things is truly where the rubber meets the road; it’s where our best intentions either do or do not bear the level of fruit that God has ordained for them.

If you want divine advancement, friend, you have to finish things. Eventually. Even if you get there slowly, and even if it takes years to arrive. You have to persevere, and not forget or let things get lax. And if God has called you to do a thing, you have to finish it.

Friend, I think we all struggle with finishing things at times. I know I do.

I am a great starter. I feel like I have 25 new ideas every day before breakfast, and most of them seem attractive to me. It’s easy for me to dream something up, get motivated and inspired, lay out a plan, and work the plan …

… but then, sometimes it’s hard for me to persevere in it until the thing is actually finished.

That doesn’t mean I quit it altogether. Sometimes I just wind down, getting slower and slower. And when that happens, in order to make myself finish a thing, I have to pray about it a lot, get convicted, and work with God’s Holy Spirit to make a plan and carry it out until the thing is complete.

Can you identify?

I know I am not alone in struggling to finish things sometimes. I know loads of people who tell me about their dreams, but those dreams are still either un-started or have stalled out. And yet, friend, if we want to advance into ALL that Jesus has for us, we have to learn to finish things!

I’m not saying we have to finish everything; some things are not your assignment to finish.

Sometimes God calls the pioneers to start a thing, and then He releases it to the settlers to carry on for extended periods of time. And of course, sometimes we begin things as a lark, but we weren’t really called by God to do them; and we realize later that we don’t have the anointing, unction, motivation, calling, or desire to continue. And in those cases, it’s okay to let something fall by the wayside.

However, if the thing is worth finishing …

And presuming that it is, in fact, your assignment to finish it (and not someone else’s) …

Friend, we have got to finish what we start. Even if it takes a week, a month, a year, or a lifetime.

Look at what the Bible says in the book of Proverbs about finishing things:

“A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again” (Proverbs 19:24 NKJV).

“The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth” (Proverbs 26:15 NKJV).

These Scriptures tell us that the food (provision) you need is in your hand when you start something, but you have to finish the thing to receive the provision! Wow! That should be enough to make us all get out our to-do lists right now and get to work. We don’t want to be lazy; we want to be diligent, and to be good stewards of all God has called us to do so we can receive all that He has promised us.

Even Jesus was passionate about finishing things, as we read in John chapter 4:

“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work’” (John 4:34 NKJV).

And beloved, if Jesus cared about finishing what God told Him to do, we should too.

Finishing what you start is a huge key to divine advancement.

It’s more than a key; it’s a requirement, really. It doesn’t matter if we go slowly; go as fast as you can and be as diligent as you can, but God understands that things take a long time occasionally. He is a God Who works in our lives through process, anyway; process is where breakthrough really happens.

But if you want to move forward in your life, in your calling, and in receiving all that God has for you, you have to begin finishing things.

I know it can be a challenge to finish things at times, but God’s grace is sufficient for you even in this.

Remember that His strength is made perfect in your weakness:

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NKJV).

And this includes not only our spiritual weakness, but also our fleshly weakness, fiscal (financial) weakness, mental weakness, emotional weakness, and every other kind of weakness that exists. We can and should ask the Lord every single day to fill us with His grace; to make His grace sufficient for us; and to make His strength perfect in our weakness. When we do this, we will see Him move in power through us and help us achieve and receive good results every time.

But friend, you will only advance to a certain, low-level position if you don’t finish things. In order to receive all that God has for you and walk forward in His blessing, anointing, and calling, you have to finish what you start.

Hard work, diligent work ethic, a spirit of excellence, and finishing what we start. Four different ways to talk about very important concepts, and all of them are necessary.

Do you struggle with having a good work ethic, and with finishing what you start, friend? If so, pray this simple prayer right now:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ name.

Father God, You know that these things feel difficult for me. I struggle with getting things done and being faithful and diligent. I definitely struggle with finishing things.

But Lord, would You please help me? Would You change my heart effective today, right this very minute? Would you please fill me with wisdom, motivation, courage, understanding, and prudence–as well as all the fruit of the Spirit, especially self-control–and help me begin working hard to get things done, one at a time?

I know it will be a process, Lord, as I unlearn old, lazy habits and build new, diligent habits.

But, please don’t let me get away from Your conviction. I want to obey You and Your Word in all things, and I can see that this means I have to work hard and finish what I begin as well.

Thank You for making Your grace sufficient for me, Lord Jesus. Thank You for helping me. I give You all the praise, and I pray that You would be glorified in my life, and in my work habits.

Thank You, Abba Father and Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Friend, is the Lord speaking to you today about improving your work ethic and finishing what you start? If so, leave a comment below!