Faithful

​Johann* works for Bernard Haldane Associates.  As I sat down in his office he said to me, “During the five years I have worked with this company I have interviewed thirty-four pastors.  Thirty-three of them missed appointments, were late, or lied when giving information. Only one was a man of integrity.” He looked me over as if to say, are you any different.  If he meant to get my attention, he succeeded.  For the rest of the day I pondered his opening statement and grieved. 

I did not get the impression that Johann disdained clergy, or that he was an enemy out to cut down men of the cloth.  A former pastor, his love for God is still firmly in place. For that reason alone, his remarks hung in my brain like a withering rain.  If Johann was telling the truth and 33 of 34 were obviously found lacking in matters of integrity, what does that say about the condition of our church leaders?
 
Meditation
Proverbs 20:6--Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?
1 Corinthians 4:2—In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful.
  
If we are not fervent in our quest to know God, we are set up for moral failure—we are in danger of becoming slackers.  To be faithful insists that we “toe the line” of righteousness.  To be faithful requires we fulfill our duty before our ever-vigilant King.  

When I think of faithful I think of the judge who protects the unborn baby despite the pressure of a society that screams “Choice!” I think of the mother who gets up at 3:00 a.m. to attend to her crying baby because she loves her child and recognizes something is wrong.  I think of the accountant who ensures that every penny is properly answered for and who would never think of slipping money into her own pocket illegally.  I think of the teenager who wakes everyday at the crack of dawn to read her Bible and spend time with her Lord.  I think of the senior citizen praying daily for his family that they might walk in holiness before God.  

God’s hand on a person’s life reveals steadiness, a consistent pattern of doing the right thing from a motivation of love.  We all enjoy being around faithful people because they provide security.  I would rather have one faithful friend than seventy-five people who are only as trustworthy as a shifting wind.  
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Jesus needs faithful followers because the world needs Jesus!  If you wonder how you are doing in your spiritual journey tackle this question, “Am I faithful?”  How would those who know you best answer the question?
 
Inspiration
We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one; but we do have our generation. God will hold us responsible as to how well we fulfill our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities.—Billy Graham
We have nothing to do with how much ability we've got, or how little, but with what we do with what we have. The man with great talent is apt to be puffed up, and the man with little [talent] to belittle the little. Poor fools!  God gives it, much or little.  “Our part is to be faithful,” doing the level best with every bit and scrap. And we will be if Jesus’ spirit controls.—S.D. Gordon in “The Bent-Knee Time” ,  Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 6.
 
*Not his real name
 
©2001 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)