FINISH THE PROJECT!

FINISH THE PROJECT

Sometime ago,  I was wondering about the number of uncompleted and abandoned projects all over our country, Nigeria. What has been happening in times past is that different administrations of government budget huge sums of money for projects and award juicy contracts to their kith and kin to execute these projects. What then happens is that very little of the money allocated actually goes towards what it is meant for and the rest literally vanishes into thin air. We are right now at the start of a new administration and we can only hope and pray that projects embarked upon by predecessors will not be abandoned or become white elephants. And that not only  will they complete whatever projects they bring to the drawing board but that said projects will also be of value to the citizens.

The funds set aside to execute these projects are tax payers contributions expected to be used for the benefit of the society at large.  But the benefits very rarely go to hard working tax payers. And so a lot of social amenities are being sourced privately by individuals for their personal use. Sadly this should not be the case. To pay tax is really to make a sacrifice. People have spent time and energy and other valuable resources to earn their income. If they therefore have to part with a portion of their income, it should at least be for a good and somewhat benefiting cause. This is not the crux of this article and I am not an expert on tax matters. So let us move on.

On the matter of unfinished projects, I want to introduce you to someone who never starts what He will not finish and who always finishes what He starts. He is God our Heavenly Father. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6  NLT When God begins something He continues until He finishes it. And quite frankly I am sure He expects nothing less from us.

The Almighty God, our Heavenly Father and Creator of all mankind took time at creation to do a good work. There was not anything He started that He abandoned halfway. Whenever He finished a work at creation He would stand back and look and call it “good.”

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31 KJV  “And on the seventh day God ended  his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” Genesis 2: 2 KJV When we do honest and decent work, it is definitely  something to feel good about.

How about us as individuals?  How many times do we purpose to do something for others and some how abandon it halfway because of obstacles and challenges along the way?  The opposition against Zerubbabel was stiff yet he did not back down or give up.  He forged ahead and was committed to the very end. “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.” Zechariah 4:9 NLT

Or do we maybe abandon projects because we feel they will not benefit us personally? We should not do that.  Remember that the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord on the cross was for our own benefit. And not for His own. He came from heaven to earth because He wanted to restore our relationship back to God. But the truth is He did not have to. He did it for us. He did it for love.

We are God’s project, created in His image and likeness to do good works here on earth. And He promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us. Not once should abandoned projects be found amongst us. No matter how difficult and rebellious we become God just never gives up on us. He keeps giving us opportunities to turn back to Him. So please in turn, do not abandon that project to rehabilitate a friend, a bother or sister, do not give up on that child that is running with the wrong crowd, do not forsake that colleague that is slow on the job or that student that keeps failing her assignments.  Just maybe they are someone’s project. And God help us to complete it in Jesus name.

 

OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©