Hindrances are obstructions, impediments, barriers, limitations, obstacles, stumbling blocks, encumbrances, and they could also be temptations. Can be due to unfaithfulness, procrastination, unresolved issues, wickedness, unpreparedness, lusts, pride of life, love of money and abuse of power to mention just a few
Finishing well means completing on a good note, accomplishing something, bringing to a close successfully. In this context "Finishing well" is to follow Christ to the very end of our lives. It is to complete the kingdom assignment given to us and to receive the crown awaiting those who finish well. So that one will confidently be able to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day." 2 Tim 4:7-8a. Therefore, hindrances to finishing well are barriers that could prevent one from following Christ to the very end of one's life.
The main objective of any believer is to run his christian race well and be heaven - bound but along the journey are some hindrances listed above which are likely to prevent one from finishing well. It is not impossible to start well and stop midway and be out of the race, or start well and not finish well, or start badly and finish well or start well and finish well. It is by the grace of God that one can finish well. To be in the race and remain in it to the very end is by the grace of God. I pray that His grace will be available to you.That is why the Bible admonishes in 1Cor10:12 , "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! "
Hindrances to finishing well are many but we would consider these three: pride, love of money and abuse of power .
Pride can be defined as arrogance, egotism, self importance, or vainglory. It can be in form of self boasting, thinking too highly of self, seeking the praise of men, and seeking to share the glory of God in matters that pertain to success, and even salvation. Pride actually prevented Lucifer from finishing well and he was finally banished from heaven. He said, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Isa 14:12–14. He was too full of himself that he wanted to exalt his own throne even above his creator and be like the most High. Of course he was cut down to the ground, he fell from grace to grass and lost his initial position. Also the King of Tyre whom God endowed with beauty, wisdom and gave power to, to make wealth became so proud when all these got into his heart. He even imagined that his mind is the mind of God. He said "I am a god ; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas." He thought he is as wise as a god. Since God resists the proud, he was brought low and driven in disgrace from the mount of God. He started very well for it was said of him "You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you". Ezekiel 28:2–17. Pride hindered him from finishing well.
Love of money is greed for money. It is an intense and selfish desire to get more money. Having preference for money above all other things and salvation inclusive. Money on its own is not an hindrance to finishing well. Afterwards God delights in the prosperity of the servants (Psalm 35:27) and He gives us power to make wealth(Deut 8:18) but the love of money is the root of all evil. (1Tim 6:10). Possibility of loving money above other things is very real. That was exactly what happened to Judas, a disciple of Jesus. He betrayed Jesus his master because of his love for money. He brought himself under God's curse by hanging himself and so he could not finish well. Deu 21:23. Also Achan's greed and love for money brought destruction and untold hardship upon Israel. God handed Israel over to Ai to be routed out because Achan stole devoted things and kept as his own possessions. When Joshua inquired from the Lord why Ai routed them out, the Lord said, "they have been made liable to destruction and that I will no longer be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction". By this God was referring to the spoils and loots that Achan had seized. Joshua followed the instruction God gave him and Achan eventually confessed ." This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred Shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath ." All he coveted were taken out, spread before the Lord and burned with his properties. He and his sons and daughters were stoned and burned. Josh 7:1-26.
Love of money can cause people to deviate from faith and do anything without considering the morality and the consequences of such actions. If Judas, a disciple of Jesus Christ, could betray him for thirty silver pieces; and Achan could put the whole of Israel in trouble because of two hundred shekels and a bar of gold. The love of money is indeed a big hindrance to finishing well.
Brethren, beware of the love of money, the root of all kinds of evil so that one will not wander from faith and be pierced with many griefs.1Tim 6:10.
Abuse of power can be defined as misuse of a position to take unjust advantage of individuals or organizations. It is improper use of authority by someone who has that authority because of the position he holds or occupies. Abuse of power can come in form of interfering with justice, high handedness, bullying or harassing behaviour, requesting someone to run personal errands or pressuring someone to do favours.
Ahab king of Samaria and his wife Jezebel abused the power bethroned on them as rulers of Samaria. 1 Kings 21:1-25. King Ahab wanted Naboth's vineyard at all cost for a vegetable garden since it was close to his palace but Naboth refused and he became cheerless and moody. Through manipulations and abuse of power Jezebel got the support of elders and nobles and plotted against Naboth. She connived with some people to testify against him that he cursed both God and the king, and Naboth was stoned to death. Jezebel was pleased to inform Ahab of Naboth's death and encouraged him to go and possess the land; he did possess the land. While Ahab was on the land, the word of the Lord came to Elijah. Say to him,"Have you not murdered a man and seized his property? In this place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood - yes, yours!" 1 Kings 21:17 - 19. And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: "Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel." 1 Kings 21:23. This was God's pronouncement on the two of them.
Ahab abused his position as the king to get prophet Micaiah imprisoned because he claimed Micaiah never prophesied anything good about him. On the contrary, Micaiah was truthful and he did as God revealed to him.1 kings 22:27. Ahab died and the dog licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared 1 Kings 22:38. Also Jezebel died when thrown down from the window and her blood splashed all over, dogs devoured her flesh at the plot of ground at Jezreel as Elijah prophesied.
They both abused the power enthroned on them and they did not finish well. God's pronouncement on them came to pass.
Brethren, the above is food for thought because finishing well should be the ultimate for all believers. Whatever will not allow one to finish well should be prevented. To prevent or overcome hindrances to finishing well, consider the following:
- Live a Christ - centred life.
- Have a daily walk with Jesus.
- Submit yourself totally to God.
- Train yourself on godliness and holiness.
- Avoid evil association.
- Be humble.
- Live by the word and avoid sin.
- Be disciplined and have self control.
- Be focused and fix your eyes on Jesus.
- Be amenable to correction.
- Avoid lust of the flesh, eyes and pride of life.
- Avoid love of money and be content.
- Never abuse power and always exercise power in the fear of the Lord .
- Be ready to persevere and endure to the end.
- Always pray and ask God to grant you the grace and the enablement to finish well.
Prayer:-
Heavenly Father, life is full of distractions and there are hindrances along the Christian race to finishing well. I desire to finish well and to follow Jesus Christ to the very end of my life. Grant me the grace to overcome all these hindrances in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
