Sermons In Time

Faith and Faithfulness

I sometimes wonder if other couples in mid-life are like we are. After 35 years (1983) of marriage, our household has about it a nasty conglomeration of potpourri. A coffee maker that won't keep coffee hot, a toaster that won't heat, a typewriter that sticks, two lamps that won't light, a dishwasher that leaks, and a car that uses oil.

Now, that's not the sum of our life together. For with all the "stuff" around the house (and cabin) that doesn't work, the 35 years together are delightfully enduring. For ours has been a relationship of faithfulness to God and family for which we are delightfully proud.

Today, if you were to ask, "What's the bottom line of life?" I'd have to report "Faithfulness is." For all the words of the Old Testament which show how much trouble the Hebrews had with their faithfulness to God (they were constantly following false gods and having to be called back to faithfulness), the promises that blessings come to faithful people abound, and we do well to hear them.

I never cease to give thanks for those faithful souls who come to mind on All Saints day who have made life so rich.

Have you not known that couple who after a lifetime together radiate the joy of those years, where trust and caring and faithfulness to their marriage vows has brought blessed friendship to their years and who seem to enjoy each other more as the years go by?

Have you not known that person who seems to have their life well put together - who is able to cope with every crisis, is flexible and open, yet deeply devout and committed to the highest values of life - and is truly glad with all people when truth and goodness prevail, and is faithful in word and practice to that which is noble and holy.

Or the person, though limited, who is always faithful in attendance in worship and always expresses appreciation for the music or the prayers, or the sermon, and who believes deeply in the mission of the Church around the world.

Who has not had a teacher, or a friend who has had a great influence on your life and because of their faithfulness to you, today you are a richer person because they reached out to you, and were able with such depth and understanding about life to be in their presence was to sit with wisdom.

Or who has not looked into the face of death, or into the fact of one dying and because of their love and devotion made even dying a rich experience for all who were present. These all speak of faithfulness - of that personal integrity and devotion and encouragement that not only makes life bearable, but also meaningful and joyful. For each we can say, "Thank God for the privilege of having known them!"

It is this faithfulness of which the writer of Revelation has Jesus say, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you the Crown of Life." This faithfulness does not give up - even when life is difficult. In Job of old, the heart of that story talks about faithfulness even when bad things happen to good people, and Job declared, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him."

Bruce Birch wrote in Christian Century about the loss of his daughter. The pain is deep, the loss is forever, but the faithfulness of his family to the promise of God not only bore them through the crisis, but also brought out the depth of their life together.

Jesus often went to the place of solitude. But the faithfulness born there made the cross a place where victory and not defeat takes place. We are humbled in the presence of that kind of devotion. Nobody ever leaves their hat on in the front of the cross.

There is in faithfulness a desire for excellence. I don't think we know that a good marriage means until we have worked at it for years. But the devotion and commitment which struggle through rich and poor, nights with sick kids, conflict over a million little things that ultimately bring out the best in all of us -these make for excellence.

When Jesus speaks of being perfect, he sets a high standard for living and performance. But the heart of moving toward that perfection, that excellence is devotion and commitment - a desire to do your very best. I am convinced that excellence in ministry is more closely related to devotion, to faithfulness than any other one thing.

Another word about faithfulness is from the Proverbs: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." We're having real problems with trust today. ------has had a fearsome series of events - which tends to close people down. Our historic and even preoccupation with being suspicious leads us into an awfully trigger happy world. Trusting is basic to faithfulness.

I once knew a lady who did not trust her husband - then she did not trust her neighbor - next she began to not trust her grocer and the food she ate - and finally she closed herself in tightly round herself. She was sick? Of course! But that same kind of breakdown of relationship destroys the crowning of life everywhere.

Being faithful begins by trusting and then: "Commit your ways unto Him and He will direct your paths." He has showed you what is good - pursue it - faithfully. Amen

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