Why Few Leaders Finish Well!

AUTHOR: Robert Clinton ADAPTED BY: Bishop Vice President Samuel Valverde

"WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?"

When I was a boy, I loved to respond to that question. I was going to be a professional
athlete; a soccer, basketball, or baseball player - depending on what time of the year
they asked. I used to be optimistic. In certain ways Im still optimistic by nature,
although I no longer aspire to be a professional athlete. Nowadays those dreams have
been replaced by others.

During the last ten years I have participated in full time ministry. The subject of
Christian leadership and leaders is intriguing to me. My passion is to see Christian
leaders finish well. Now my dreams are to be a leader who finishes well and who helps
others to finish well. At first glance this does not seem to be very ambitious.
Nevertheless, for five years I have been studying leaders and leadership, and have come
to recognize that the challenge to finish well is a valuable accomplishment. We see that
few leaders in the Christian ministry actually finish well!

BIBLICAL LEADERS: HOW DID THEY FINISH?

Some years ago, Dr. Bobby Clinton, a professor of leadership at Fuller Seminary, made
a comparative investigation of leadership in Scriptures. The results were published in an
article entitled, "The Mantle of the Mentor." The results scared me a little.

Approximately 1000 leaders are mentioned in the Bible. Most of these leaders are
mentioned by name or are mentioned in connection with a particular role. Some receive
a little more attention, but not much information is given about their lives. The Bible
describes nearly 100 prominent leaders.

There are several types of leaders described in the Bible. There are patriarchy, military,
civilian, religious leaders (priests), informal religious leaders (prophets), and charismatic
leaders (judges) in the Old Testament. In the New Testament we find the following
types of leaders: Jesus (the Messiah), apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and
teachers.

Of the 100 prominent leaders, we only know how 49 of them finished. Dr. Clinton
developed some categories that helped him analyze the way in which these leaders
finished. This lesson discusses the categories he used and examples to illustrate his
analysis. Because Dr. Clintons analysis is based on his judgment it may differ from the
opinion of the reader. Nonetheless, the results of this study are interesting.

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HOW THEY FINISHED

Some Finished Early - These leaders were removed from leadership for reasons
including, murder, death in war, they were censured prophetically, or coup d' tats.
Some of these activities were directly attributed to God. While some were positive,
others were negative.

EXAMPLES: Abimelec, Samson, Absalom, Ahab, Josiah, John the Baptist, Jacob.

Some Finished Poorly - These leaders were decaying at the end of their ministry. This
reflects their poor personal relationship with God or how they failed in their ministry.

EXAMPLES: Gideon, Samson, Eli, Saul, Salomon.

Some Finished Average - These leaders did more or less well, but were limited in their
ministry because of their sin. Although they walked with God in their beginning, they
did not completely fulfill God's will and faced the consequences of coming up short.

EXAMPLES: David, Jehosophat, Hezekiah.

Some Finished Well - These leaders walked with God their entire life. They did their best
to work with God. They fulfilled their ministry and accomplished the task God had set
before them.

EXAMPLES: Abraham, Job, Joseph, Joshua, Caleb, Samuel, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel,
Jesus, John, Paul, and Peter.

Dr. Clinton admits that while results cannot be categorized as final or exhaustive,
nevertheless there is an overwhelming, undeniable conclusion: In the Bible, few leaders
finished well! Only about 30% of Biblical leaders finished well. That means that two
thirds did not! This is staggering! What does this mean to us today? Is there a
correlation between leaders of the Bible and the leaders in the contemporary Christian
ministry? I believe so.

In my opinion, I believe the percentage of contemporary leaders who finish well is about
the same, or even a little worse, than the percentage of Biblical leaders. There have
been many studies conducted of ministers families related to stress. Other studies track
what happens to seminary graduates. Hopefully the results of these studies will be
published soon. Initial information confirms my suspicion that few leaders are
"surviving" in their ministry, nevertheless still finishing well.

Is there something we can do about this? What we can learn from Biblical leaders that
can serve us at the present time?

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HOW TO AIM TOWARDS FINISHING WELL

Recently I had the opportunity to play golf with university friends. We were playing on
a course classified as being among the most challenging in the world. Each hole
presented a new challenge to us. Peter Dye, the architect of that golf course, designed
it that way. Whenever we arrived at a new hole, we had to decide where to place the
ball. Time after time, we had to make difficult decisions. Something that helped me was
that one of the boys playing with us had previously played the course. At every hole he
advised me of the potential dangers and how to strike the ball. His knowledge and
perspective on the course helped me to get through the most difficult parts of the
course.

An excellent game of golf requires patience, good judgment, a good perspective, and
the ability to exert what one has projected. Nonetheless, there are variables such as
field conditions and climate. Whenever one plays golf, one must be flexible and adjust
to the variables. In fact, those same adjustments are what make golf so attractive. It is
a difficult and challenging game, but if one plays well it is a very satisfying game.

Christian leadership and ministry are very similar: difficult and challenging. However,
done well, it becomes a satisfactory experience. As leaders, we need all the knowledge
and perspective that we can possibly obtain. We need people, like my young friend
during the golf game, who pointed out the potential dangers and things we should
avoid.

The apostle Paul realized the importance of learning from others. He writes in Romans
15:4, "Because the things that were written before, for our education were written, in
order that by the patience and the consolation of Scriptures, we have hope." In
I Corinthians 10:6, he is speaking about events, stories, and people who were described
in the Old Testament and says: "But these things happened like examples for us, so
that we do not covet bad things, as they coveted."

Paul is saying that we should heed to the warnings in Scriptures and use them as a
source of hope. There is much Bible leaders could teach us today. Their life is a source
of encouragement for us as they model what it means to live uprightly before God.
Some of the leaders must be a source of spirit and hope while they model for us what
it means to live uprightly for God. As we study the lives of others, we will be warned
of dangers and pitfalls.
What Is Finishing Well?

One of the first things we can learn from leaders who finished well is what it really
means to finish. They show us that it is possible to finish well. All leaders, with God's
help can finish well. As Christian leaders are pressed at all sides, we need to know that
it is not only possible to endure to the end, but that we can finish well.

There are six characteristics in leaders who finished well in Scriptures. Not all biblical
leaders possessed these characteristics. These characteristics define what it means to
finish well. I use these characteristics to guide my own life and to measure my growth
and progress in the ministry. None of us knows with absolute certainty what lies before
us in our future. Life is short. Moses exhorts all when he says, "So teach us to number
our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. (Psalm 90:12). We must begin to
work now in order to establish the following characteristics in our life and ministry.
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WHAT IS FINISHING WELL?

One of the first things we can learn from leaders who finished well is what it really means to
finish. They show us that it is possible to finish well. All leaders, with God's help can finish well!
As Christian leaders are pressed at all sides, we need to know that it is not only possible to endure
to the end, but that we can finish well.

There are six characteristics in leaders who finished well in the Scriptures. Not all biblical leaders
possessed these characteristics. These characteristics define what it means to finish well. I use
these characteristics to guide my own life and to measure my growth and progress in the ministry.
None of us knows with absolute certainty what lies before us in our future. Life is short. Moses
exhorts all when he says, "So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to
wisdom." (Psalm 90:12). We must begin to work now in order to establish the following
characteristics in our life and ministry.

SIX CHARACTERISTICS FOUND IN THOSE THAT FINISHED WELL

CHARACTERISTIC # 1: They Cultivated A Relationship With God

They maintained a personal, vibrant relationship with God until the very end. This was evident in
their intimacy, obedience, and faithfulness.

Daniel is the classic Old Testament leader who exemplifies this. In the New Testament, Peter, Paul,
and John all demonstrate this. Notice the tone, the touch and the revelation from God that their
relationship allowed them to enjoy until the very end.

CHARACTERISTIC # 2: They Maintained A Learning Spirit

Leaders that finish well will learn from life, literature, and from others. Daniel chapter 9 shows us
that Daniel continued to study and learn.

CHARACTERISTIC # 3: They Reflected Christ's Character

They manifested Christ-likeness in character as evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
Again, Daniel exemplifies godliness. Paul also, reflected Christ's character.

CHARACTERISTIC #4: They Preserved Their Convictions and Beliefs

Example: Joshua's statement about God's promises never having failed him in his closing speech
demonstrate this characteristic of someone that believed God and staked his life on God's truth
(Jos. 23:14). Paul weaves many of his convictions in his two letters to Timothy. See his famous
stirring convictions echoed in Acts 27:22-25.

CHARACTERISTIC #5: They Fulfilled God's Purposes

They leave behind valuable contributions or a testimony of a legacy of a life that honors God. His
life shows how he fulfilled God's purpose, not his own. They are either pioneers, promoters, or
pivotal in God's mission.

CHARACTERISTIC #6: They Fulfill A Destiny

This leader lived life with a growing understanding and a consciousness of destiny. He knew his
life was connected to something and someone bigger than himself. His life's decisions were made
based on this connection with destiny.

Like Joseph, the leader who finishes well views obstacles and victory from a perspective of
destiny. He is able to see the whole picture.
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SIX MAJOR BARRIERS THAT HINDER FINISHING WELL

Let me share with you six barriers to finishing well that I have identified. We need to
walk wisely in order to avoid being entrapped by them.

Barrier #1: The Use and Abuse Of Finances

Leaders in positions of power will make important financial decisions. Some will be
tempted to abuse their power and wrongly handle finances. If present, the deep root of
greed will eventually surface and cause great damage to the leader's reputation and
credibility. Gideon, Gehazi, Ananias, and Sapphira are a few examples of greed.

Barrier #2: The Abuse Of Power

Effective leaders in ministry must use various power bases in order to accomplish their
ministry. With power so available on a daily basis, there is a tendency to abuse it.
Leaders who rise to the top in a hierarchical system tend to assume privileges with their
perceived status. Frequently, these privileges seem to include abuse of power. If we
add to that the absence of accountability, a man might begin to believe that he is
something he's not. In the New Testament, Diotrephes abused his power with the
saints.

Barrier #3: Pride

Pride leads to a leader's downfall. Leaders must understand the tension that
accompanies leadership. On one hand we must have a healthy respect for our selves,
and yet we must recognize that we have nothing that was not given to us by God and
that He is the one who really enables ministry. When pride entered David's heart, he
insisted on numbering the people even at the objections of his helpers.

Barrier #4: Inappropriate Sexual Conduct

Illicit sexual relationships have been a major downfall both in the Bible and in western
cultures.

Joseph's classic integrity check with respect to sexual sin is the ideal model that should
be in a leader's minds. Conversely, David's sin with Bathsheba was a pivotal point
from which his leadership never fully recovered. It was all downhill from there on.

Barrier #5: Unresolved Family Problems

Marriage and family problems can destroy a leader's ministry. What is needed are
Biblical values lived out with regard to husband-wife relationships, parent children, and
sibling relationships. Lack of leadership and supervision on David's part caused him
embarrassing problems within his own family. Amnon rapes Tamar, Absalom kills
Amnon, and Salomon kills Adonijah - all in the family!

Barrier #6: Prolonged Plateau

Competent but careless leaders tend to plateau. Their very strength becomes a
weakness. They can continue to minister at a given level, but lack spark and spirit.
Most leaders might plateau several times in their life. A good leader will counter act by
applying the following 5 helps:

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Help #1: Keep The Right Perspective

Effective leaders will view present ministry in terms of a lifetime perspective. That
perspective is gained by studying lives of leaders as commanded in Hebrews 13:7, 8.
A good rule of thumb is to remember that our ministry or leadership is not about us, it's
about Him.

Help #2: Seasons Of Renewal

Leaders need special moments of intimacy with God that will bring renewal. Some will
be initiated by life's crises, and other times the leader can initiate these moments of
intimacy and brokenness. These destiny experiences will be needed, appreciated, and
will make the difference in persevering a ministry

Help #3: Spiritual Disciplines

Leaders need discipline. Many times the lack of disciplines in the natural will seep into
the lack of discipline in the spiritual. A good example of this is church landscape. My
Father used to say that condition of the church yard was a reflection of the condition of
the Pastor's soul. Get up early, pray, study, fast and meditate consistently. Discipline
the mind, the eyes, and the ears. A good place to start is with the appetite.

Help #4: Keep Learning

Paul asked Timothy to "bring the books" (II Timothy 4:13). With so much help and
resources available, today's leader has no excuse. I still don't understand folks that
have been in this country for 20 years and still have not learned the English language.
There are many non-formal training events available such as workshops, seminars, and
conferences covering a variety of learning skills. Take advantage of them.

Help #5: Find A Mentor

Comparative studies of many leaders' lives indicate that other people were significant in
challenging them into leadership and in offering advice and expertise. Everyone, even
the best, needs a coach. A mentor is more than a counselor. While a counselor helps
a person resolve past problems in order to live in the present, a coach will help a person
asses the present in order to better operate in the future. A mentor silently holds his
protg accountable.

CONCLUSION

I have good news and bad news. The bad news: There is no guarantee that any one of
us will finish well. Leadership and ministry are very demanding and taxing. Finishing
well will require much effort on your part. The truth is that indeed, few leaders do
finish well.

However, there's good news! You are not alone. God is with you every step of the
way. If you listen, he will guide, teach, correct and inspire you. He will help you
because HE WANTS YOU TO FINISH WELL!

What you are today is the direct results of the decisions you made 5 or 10 years ago.
The decisions you make today will result in what you will be in 5 or 10 years. Start
thinking about finishing well TODAY!
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