stick-to-it-TIve-ness

Let’s face it – people seem to live on ready to quit on just about everything today. People quit working out, people get out of contracts, people drop out of races, some quit on relationships, and seem to give up on God for what seems to be the smallest things. Where is the commitment today? Very few really have it and those who are committed to seeing things through seem to be tempted on every hand to just quit.

As I thought about this subject and the dire need we have to live up to our commitments and see things through, I recalled my experience at the 2007 Ironman Arizona…I wanted to finish but I wanted to quit. I was in a great deal of pain from back spasms, so much pain that I couldn’t stand upright, so I ran the last 3 miles completely bent over at the waist. As I got closer to the finish line I knew I had to keep pressing on and not quit. The temptation was present along with all the excuses I needed to just throw in the towel and give up. Thankfully, I pressed on and finished Ironman Arizona on April 15, 2007 - by the grace of God. I fought through many difficulties and the biggest was coming back from being one breath from death just two years prior to the race so “LOOK WHAT GOD CAN DO!”

There’s something about practicing the principle of stick-to-it-tive-ness in everything so it carries over to the big things of life. Let’s look at this principle:

Sometimes it takes sticking it out to the end in order to win the battle. You can call it perseverance, you can call it patience, or you can call it stick-to-it-tive-ness - it's a matter of finishing what you have started no matter what the cost. Self discipline is the artillery for battles within. The more we stick to the plan we set out to do and bring ourselves in line, the more we'll enjoy the sweet victories along the way. But there's always a temptation in the loneliness of self discipline to give in and give up.

There's an account in the Old Testament where David is reviewing the people in his life that have really meant something to him. Stuck in the middle of the list is a guy named Eleazar. Eleazar's claim to fame in the eyes of King David was his "stick-to-it-tive-ness."

2 Samuel 23:9-10 (ESV) ⁹ And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. ¹⁰ He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.

David and his men went out and taunted the enemy. Can you hear them? "Here we are come and get us." When the enemy decided they heard enough and started after David and his men - everyone retreated except Eleazar. It says he stood his ground. And did he ever. He stayed put until the job was done. He had every opportunity to run like the rest. He had every reason to give up. But he didn't give up. He didn't run away from the challenge. He stayed until the job was complete. Even when his hand grew tired he just held on all the more tightly and did not quit.

What a lesson! You and I can find every excuse in the book to leave whatever we know we should do. We can find every reason to give up and join others not engaged in the job we are doing. We can allow our weariness to overcome us and give in to giving up. Or we can be like Eleazar and grip a little tighter, go on a little longer, until the job is done.

It makes me think of the discipline it takes to compete as an athlete. It's amazing how many people you see doing other things when you set out to train. There's no glory in training and the distractions are many. Self discipline is a lonely job. Weariness can get the best of you if you let it. Or you can stick to it and know it will pay off in the long run.

Paul in the New Testament was quite impressed with the discipline of athletes as he wrote:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV) ²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. ²⁵ Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

There's that "stick-to-it-tive-ness" again. Paul is not going to give up on the battle of self discipline. He knew he had to hold on just like Eleazar, and just like we do.

Don't let go. Stick to it. Keep your grip tight and you, like Eleazar and Paul, can find victory in your life too. When it comes to life – your walk with God, your marriage, your daily work, your training, your parenting, church life, etc. there’s no substitute for “stick-to-it-tive-ness.”

Godspeed,

Bob Brubaker

www.bobbrubaker.com