Faithfulness

“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Pr 20:6 AV)

What a convicting question!  What is striking is the contrast between bragging and quiet faithfulness.  Faithfulness is a trait that is hard to find.  Doing what one is supposed to do without being asked is hard to find.  Faithfulness is the gem that makes the saint shin bright.  Often not acknowledged for it, faithfulness is eventually deeply appreciated.  The quiet servant who can be counted on like an automatic appliance is a treasure beyond words.  Having delegated responsibility and never having to think about it again is the lifeblood of a leader.  Knowing there are those whom he can trust with the important aspects of the ministry without having to follow up with each and every task is the treasure of every successful man of God.  God gives us such men and women, and we could not function without them.  Faithfulness is right up there with moral character.  Finding both in the servants God surrounds the preacher with is a gift beyond words.

The hardest jobs I have ever had were those that were unsupervised.  Especially if that job entailed generating my own daily responsibilities.  Years ago, I was a glorified janitor for a small office building.  It was a seven-floor office building with marble floors.  It had two elevators.  Each floor had two restrooms.  My job was to clean the restrooms, maintain the marble floors.  Vacuum the carpet.  Clean and dust everything.  Pick up trash in the fire escapes.  Polish brass handrails every day.  Keep the grounds picked up.  And all maintenance items that came across my desk.  This would include simple HVAC troubleshooting, simply carpentry and plumbing, and assisting vendors or skilled tradesmen in more advanced repairs.  Most of the time, routine janitorial or maintenance items took up my day.  What was hard was not having a supervisor watching me.  I had to be self-motivated.  I didn’t always succeed.  Being faithful when no one is watching is not a simple task.  Laziness or lack of passion can challenge the most dedicated of workmen.  That was my challenges, anyway. 

Faithfulness is underrated.  Faithfulness is a matter of character.  To be consistent day in and day out is not that easy.  Our human nature can get directly in the way of our character.  Yet, faithfulness is a quality highly prized by those who have responsibility.  The parable of the day-laborers are often misjudged.  Those hired at the beginning of the day were paid the same as those hired at the end of the day.  Most of us would understand the criticism.  However, those who remained in the marketplace for any work that might come their way labored in faithfulness.  They stayed the latest they could.  They remained in a place of usefulness, even though no one hired them.  This faithfulness was recognized by the master.  He appreciated their willingness to do whatever they could.  In some way, it took more character to stay in the place of usefulness, even though they were being underutilized.  Faithfulness.  A prize far above most other attributes.  It is a trait leaders starve for.  We need servants who will do as they are asked without being watched and constantly encouraged.  Faithfulness!  Knowing one can hand off a responsibility and never have to worry about it again is priceless.  Faithfulness!  What a deeply appreciated character trait in those who serve God.