http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24:45&version=NIV1984
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut%207:9&version=NIV1984
Terry Hamik, 62, of our very own Kalispell, Montana retired on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. And it made our local newspaper. With a nice, half-page article. Now many people retire yet very few get an article in the newspaper about it. It’s because Hamik is a public figure. A judge? No. A principal? No. The mayor? No. Hamik is a customer service representative. Another term for hostess. For MacDonald’s. You know, the hamburger chain. Another reason why Hamik received some press is that she has been at her job for 32 years. 32 years working in a fast food restaurant! Do you know what the average length of employment is at a fast food restaurant? Not very long. It is probably measured in terms of months. Not years. Not 32 years.
For 32 years Hamik faithfully went to work each day. Among her many duties were greeting customers. Refilling the coffee. Talking with customers. Handing out balloons to children. And just about anything else, with the exception of cooking. Hamik eventually moved into advertising - responsible for in-store displays, promotions, birthday party program and local media advertisements. Later she worked in the main office doing payroll and accounts receivable. Her latest role is back inside the restaurants counting deposits. Oh yeah, in addition, Hamik also raised 5 children. And was involved in a number of community organizations. Certainly Hamik is worthy of the recognition that she received.
Faithfulness. The fact is that while it is very valuable it doesn’t get much press. Or hype. Get rich quick? A lot of people are interested in that. Fast track on promotions? A lot of people are into that as well. Power. Prestige. Popularity. Again, the line for these is very long. But not so much for faithfulness. The reason why is due to its very nature. Faithfulness is a long process. I mean you don’t show up for work a week in a row and get the label ‘faithful’. You get it when you show up for work each and every day for 5 years. 10 years. 20 years. Or, in Hamik’s case, 32 years. Since it takes such a long time to become faithful, many people would rather be known for something else. Also, by its very nature, faithfulness is well, for lack of a better term, boring. Every day pretty much the same. Not much glamor. Or excitement. Some highs. Some lows. But a lot of in-betweens.
Yet, as I mentioned, even though faithfulness is rather boring and unappealing to many people, it is very valuable. And important. Take marriage, for example. We all want to be married to someone who is faithful to us and who will keep their vows, don’t we? Of course, we do. And we treasure faithful employees like Hamik who show up every day and do their job. We also appreciate family members and friends who stick by us through thick and thin. It is with a bit of irony that I observe that while everyone wants faithful people in their life not everyone wants to be faithful. Sounds hypocritical, doesn’t it? It is.
The Bible says that one of the attributes of God is that He is faithful. In other words, God shows up for work each and every day. He doesn’t call in sick. Or skip out. He faithfully runs and rules the universe. Every last square inch of it. And God is also faithful in His relationships. God is the most faithful friend we could ever have. And when He makes a promise, He keeps it. Always. God’s faithfulness is especially revealed to those who are faithful to Him. Sort of pay-back I guess.
The great thing about faithfulness is that anyone can achieve it. You don’t have to be smart. Or good-looking. Or rich. Or super-talented. All you need to do is to be committed. Committed to putting one foot in front of the other. To show up. Day after day. In your marriage. In parenting. At work. Ministry. Our relationship with God. And if you do, somewhere down the line, to your surprise, you will be known far and wide for your faithfulness. You will be a shining example. A blessing to many others. And who knows? You just might get a nice write-up in the local newspaper as well!
Lord, I thank you that You are faithful to me. Always have been. Always will. I pray that You will help me to be faithful to You. All my life. In good times and bad. When I want to and when I don’t. And help me to be faithful to others. My wife. My children and grandchildren. My friends. My congregation. Someday may I hear those precious words from Your lips, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
For 32 years Hamik faithfully went to work each day. Among her many duties were greeting customers. Refilling the coffee. Talking with customers. Handing out balloons to children. And just about anything else, with the exception of cooking. Hamik eventually moved into advertising - responsible for in-store displays, promotions, birthday party program and local media advertisements. Later she worked in the main office doing payroll and accounts receivable. Her latest role is back inside the restaurants counting deposits. Oh yeah, in addition, Hamik also raised 5 children. And was involved in a number of community organizations. Certainly Hamik is worthy of the recognition that she received.
Faithfulness. The fact is that while it is very valuable it doesn’t get much press. Or hype. Get rich quick? A lot of people are interested in that. Fast track on promotions? A lot of people are into that as well. Power. Prestige. Popularity. Again, the line for these is very long. But not so much for faithfulness. The reason why is due to its very nature. Faithfulness is a long process. I mean you don’t show up for work a week in a row and get the label ‘faithful’. You get it when you show up for work each and every day for 5 years. 10 years. 20 years. Or, in Hamik’s case, 32 years. Since it takes such a long time to become faithful, many people would rather be known for something else. Also, by its very nature, faithfulness is well, for lack of a better term, boring. Every day pretty much the same. Not much glamor. Or excitement. Some highs. Some lows. But a lot of in-betweens.
Yet, as I mentioned, even though faithfulness is rather boring and unappealing to many people, it is very valuable. And important. Take marriage, for example. We all want to be married to someone who is faithful to us and who will keep their vows, don’t we? Of course, we do. And we treasure faithful employees like Hamik who show up every day and do their job. We also appreciate family members and friends who stick by us through thick and thin. It is with a bit of irony that I observe that while everyone wants faithful people in their life not everyone wants to be faithful. Sounds hypocritical, doesn’t it? It is.
The Bible says that one of the attributes of God is that He is faithful. In other words, God shows up for work each and every day. He doesn’t call in sick. Or skip out. He faithfully runs and rules the universe. Every last square inch of it. And God is also faithful in His relationships. God is the most faithful friend we could ever have. And when He makes a promise, He keeps it. Always. God’s faithfulness is especially revealed to those who are faithful to Him. Sort of pay-back I guess.
The great thing about faithfulness is that anyone can achieve it. You don’t have to be smart. Or good-looking. Or rich. Or super-talented. All you need to do is to be committed. Committed to putting one foot in front of the other. To show up. Day after day. In your marriage. In parenting. At work. Ministry. Our relationship with God. And if you do, somewhere down the line, to your surprise, you will be known far and wide for your faithfulness. You will be a shining example. A blessing to many others. And who knows? You just might get a nice write-up in the local newspaper as well!
Lord, I thank you that You are faithful to me. Always have been. Always will. I pray that You will help me to be faithful to You. All my life. In good times and bad. When I want to and when I don’t. And help me to be faithful to others. My wife. My children and grandchildren. My friends. My congregation. Someday may I hear those precious words from Your lips, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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