We’re almost to the half-way point. Time to look back over this year. How effective have you been in patterns and decisions you wanted to make? Have you made progress to live effectively each day? Essentially, I’m assuming you want to finish this year well. If I’m right, and I think I probably am, let’s look at some action points to keep momentum going the rest of this year.
Set The Stage
Do your relationships, career, lifestyle, and goals prove you’ve made progress in areas you’re working on? At this point in the year, reviewing action points might be a breath of fresh air to help you finish well.
Several ideas set the stage to evaluate how effective you are. Let’s look at four action points.
- Be generous in all you think, say, and do.
- Be eager to do what is right.
- Give credit for a job well-done in others (and even in yourself).
- Bring self-accountability where needed to keep raising the bar.
Of course, you’re aiming for certain goals. However, the action points we just looked at bring balance of focus as you reach for more. Actually, they are established under everything you pursue to be successful.
A half-way point evaluation is a good place to spend a few minutes.
Live Effective – Action Points
Over time, people wear down, lose perspective, and get off track in goals they reach for. So, let’s explore our four action points. Since they represent excellent character, they are applicable in any scenario.
1. Be Generous
“True generosity goes far beyond money or material gifts. It’s in the time we share, the compassion we extend, and the willingness to lift others even when no one is watching.” – Unknown
Incidentally, the Scriptures weigh-in on being generous. Essentially, generosity makes a person more like God – growing into Christ-like character.
” . . . good men will be generous to others and will be blessed of God for all they do.” (Is. 32:8)
Frankly, what can be more valuable than pouring into other’s lives?
- Family.
- Kids.
- Grandkids.
- Friends.
- Coworkers.
- Neighbors.
- Strangers.
It’s in being generous we improve our communities – and even influence the global picture. People with generous character gain respect.
God is generous to humanity. Plus, He’s very generous to you – an individual.
So, be generous in all you think, say, and do.
2. Be Eager
Interestingly, being eager applies to all areas of life. When you are eager, you bring the power of “buy-in” to what you’re aiming for. Eagerness involves zeal in all endeavors –
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- Spiritual growth.
- Relationships.
- Career development.
- Financial decisions.
- Healthy living choices.
- Being well-read.
- Better sleep.
- Practicing a restful spirit.
- Succeeding in goals.
- Pursuing issues that affect your community, country, the world, God’s church.
- Desire to serve others.
- Surrender to God’s interests above yours.
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Are you eager in all those endeavors? If not, how will you raise the bar?
Whatever you decide to go after, be eager to do what is right.
3. Give Credit
Of course, to give credit sounds somewhat similar to being generous. But is has its own nuances.
When you give credit to others, you invest in people, current culture, and the future. Plus, you invest in God’s Kingdom. Oftentimes, Scripture “gives credit” to faithful people. I love reading about these people.
One passage, Heb.11:4-40, names hundreds of examples of faithful people. God set aside significant verses in the “faith chapter” to give credit to faithful people.
Let’s consider the opposite idea. If you don’t give credit, you rob someone of what actually belongs to them. This includes giving credit to God. To steal from someone else – particularly from God – is a serious moral issue.
Incidentally, you do yourself a favor to properly give credit to yourself. You’ve heard it and so have I. Someone notices what you’ve done, and in a poor attempt at humility, you push back and say, “Oh, it was nothing.” Maybe you shouldn’t rob yourself, either. Perhaps better to say, “Thank you for noticing and telling me. You encouraged me. And I see you are kind.”
Subsequently, give credit for a job well-done in others (and in yourself).
4. Bring Self-Accountability
Interestingly, the most mature, balanced, healthy people I know are not afraid to bring self-accountability. It’s true. And while it’s tempting to think others will think poorly of you when you admit something, I’ve found the opposite is true most of the time. Generally, people respect and admire someone who holds themselves accountable. Matter of fact, our world would improve “hugely” if leaders and citizens would practice self-accountability.
Think of it this way. If you don’t engage self-accountability – and you need it – someone else has to take up the burden to hold you accountable. That’s not fun for your friends, family, and acquaintances.
Frankly, self-accountability takes an accurate view of yourself. Plus, good qualities. Things like –
- Courage.
- Humility.
- Honesty.
- Being well-read and well-informed.
- Willing to not be “right” all the time.
- Eager to listen to others.
- Caring more about pleasing God than pleasing others or self.
- Confessing where you went wrong and apologizing.
Those qualities prove you’re faithful.
So, be engaged. Bring self-accountability where needed to raise the bar.
God Is Generous, Eager, Gives Credit, And Promotes Accountability
God is eager to help you succeed in these action points. Remarkably, He leads by example – proven all through Scripture. Plus, the incarnate life of Jesus gives the perfect example to aim for.
Additionally, God is deliberate in helping you succeed. His approach, tactics, and love prove His patient involvement in your life.
Patience is something God is good at and most of us aren’t.
Do you join God in being generous, eager, giving credit, and promoting self-accountability?
Make A Difference – Live Effectively
Let’s explore an example of gardening.
If you want to make a difference in this world, sow seeds of kindness generously. Then, do the tedious work of tilling, weeding, watering, and fertilizing your plantings of kindness. Support tender stalks. Plus, engage necessary pruning. This brings harvest.
When you invest in others (and yourself) with kindness, you live effectively. Use this gardening example for your life.
God is concerned about people’s hearts. Let Him start with you. Not only does He address your own personal growth and needs. He trains you how to make a difference in others’ growth.
So, make a difference!
Temptation
This content would be incomplete without looking at the reality of temptation. Unfortunately, temptation targets pursuits to live effectively. Actually, you can side-step temptation and be faithful over the long-haul.
In addition to practicing these –
- Be generous.
- Be eager.
- Give credit.
- Bring self-accountability.
– you often need good questions to avoid temptations.
Good Questions
Let’s start with a few questions that invite temptation –
- What good is all my work doing?
- No one cares about how selflessly I’m pouring into others, do they?
- Does my life even matter?
- Is my work as valuable as so-and-so’s?”
And on go enemy messages.
But that “voice” isn’t from God. The Lord asks good questions that help you become like Christ –
- How effectively am I doing my work for Christ?
- Since God partners in my work, how can I pour into others?
- My life matters. So, how can I honor God today?
- I’m secure in Christ. So, how can I encourage the work of so-and-so?”
Frankly, make sure you ask good questions that come from God, not questions that invite temptation from your enemy. God’s questions link you to His promises.
Good Promises
Good questions connect directly to promises Jesus makes. Here are some:
- He will make all grace abound to you as you take care of His interests. (2 Cor. 9:8)
- All your personal needs will be met as you trust and obey. (Phil. 4:19)
- A harvest will follow your labors for Christ. God brings the increase. (1 Cor. 3:6-7)
- God pours His love into your heart. So, open your heart to Him. (Rom. 5:5)
- God blesses gratitude. So, be abundantly thankful. (Heb. 12:28)
So, take God’s promises to heart. And keep your questions centered there. God will prove His Word – if you stay in faith.
Application Thoughts And Questions
Have you lived effectively this year?- Are you generous in all you think, say, and do?
- Are you eager to do what is right?
- Do you give credit for a job well-done to others (and to yourself)?
- Do you bring self-accountability where needed to raise the bar?
- Do you spend daily time in His Word.
- How do you avoid temptation?
- Do you ask yourself good questions that stay in the framework of God’s promises?
- Name one thing you can change to live effectively the second half of this year.
* Portions of this content come from my book – e-Pistles For An i-Generation Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through 1 and 2 Corinthians. You’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.
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