Finishing Well - Dr. J. Robert Clinton
(free PDF download is available from their website or you can find it in my resources sessions)
I found this article on Christian leadership very helpful and encouraging; so I am sharing it here with you all.
In his introduction Clinton writes,
"A repeated reading of the Bible with a focus on leadership reveals four crucial observations fraught
with leadership implications:
with leadership implications:
- Observation 1. Few leaders finish well.
- Observation 2. Leadership is difficult.
- Observation 3. God's enabling presence is the essential ingredient of successful leadership.
- Observation 4. Spiritual leadership can make a difference.
And what is true of Biblical leaders is equally true of historical and contemporary leaders. It is the first
observation to which this article speaks. Identifying the fact that few leaders finish well was a breakthrough warning for me. This led to further study. Why do few leaders finish well? What stops them? What helps them? What does it mean to finish well? This article identifies six characteristics of those finishing well."
observation to which this article speaks. Identifying the fact that few leaders finish well was a breakthrough warning for me. This led to further study. Why do few leaders finish well? What stops them? What helps them? What does it mean to finish well? This article identifies six characteristics of those finishing well."
Six Characteristics of Leaders who Finish Well.
- Characteristic 1 - They maintain a personal vibrant relationship with God right up to the end.
- Characteristic 2 - They maintain a learning posture and can learn from various kinds of sources—life especially.
- Characteristic 3 - They manifest Christ-likeness in character as evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
- Characteristic 4 - Truth is lived out in their lives so that convictions and promises of God are seen to
be real. - Characteristic 5 - They leave behind one or more ultimate contributions.
- Characteristic 6 - They walk with a growing awareness of a sense of destiny and see some or all of it
fulfilled.
Six Major Barriers Identified to Finishing Well
- Barrier 1. Finances—their Use And Abuse
- Barrier 2. Power—its Abuse
- Barrier 3. Pride--which Leads To Downfall
- Barrier 4. Sex--illicit Relationships
- Barrier 5. FAMILY--Critical Issues
- Barrier 6. Plateauing.
Five Factors That Enhance Finishing Well
- Enhancement 1. Perspective.
- Enhancement 2. Renewal.
- Enhancement 3. Disciplines.
- Enhancement 4. Learning Posture.
- Enhancement 5. Mentoring.
