Purpose Study Bible 348: Finish What You Start

When Ezra gathered the people for the journey back to Jerusalem, he discovered something was missing:

I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there (Ezra 8:15).

Rather than ignore the problem or hope it would solve itself, he addressed it before continuing the journey. Thereafter, he inventoried what they were taking back for the Temple and oversaw how they were going to transport everything they had.

Ezra's goal wasn't just to get back to Jerusalem, but to finish the task at hand. He was not just a good starter but also a good finisher, although we will see that it required other people like Nehemiah to complete the job. Inspiration may get a project started, but organization, evaluation, and teamwork are what help bring it to completion. Like Ezra, you will eventually have to address how you're going to organize your creative purpose, and do what you have to do with limited resources of time, energy, and money to do it.

Are you a good starter but not so good as a finisher? Are you simply content to create, or are you organizing your creativity so it will have maximum impact and benefit for others? Who or what is missing that will help you finish the work God has given you to do?

Purpose requires more than inspiration; it requires organization, perseverance, and the humility to involve others in the work. As you faithfully do your part, God will continue to direct your steps and supply what you need to finish well.