The Value of Consistency
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” Luke 16:10,11 ESV
The parable of the “Dishonest Manager” can be a difficult one to understand. This is because Jesus seems to commend the manager who was wasting his master’s possessions. The manager when he knew he would lose his job quickly had those who owed the landlord money reduce their bills in order to gain friends when he was without his job and on the “street.”
But what I notice in Jesus’ words is the value of consistency and establishing a “track record” that provides credibility and trust. In other words, you don’t change your character or your responsibility based on the level or the importance of the job or position.
Paul said, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV) He did not put any parameters on the level of responsibility or the degree of trust given. The one who is faithful in little, will be faithful in much. If you can be faithful as a busboy you will be faithful as the restaurant manager.
I have seen this concept come up in one way or another over my life.
When I served on the education committee in the State House, it seemed the complaint was that teachers were not effective because they didn’t get paid enough. Once I asked (tongue-in-cheek) my fellow committee member, now US Senator, Cory Gardner, “How much do you need to pay a bad teacher to turn them into a good teacher?”
As I have worked on issues of poverty and homelessness, I have pointed out that giving more money to someone who is not responsible does not solve their financial problems. Just recently a friend told me of working with an individual who was experiencing financial problems and had to move from her home. He confided that it seemed, “she was her own worst enemy.” He went on and told me that at one point she had inherited $100,000 and a house, but that was “all gone.”
I remember the somewhat poetic words of my old high school baseball coach. Toward the end of his career he found himself working with a far different group of students than he had in the past. They seemed to have athletic talent, but their personal discipline was challenged and it showed up under the pressure of competition. The coach quipped, “I have found if a student can’t ‘bear down’ in the classroom, he won’t ‘bear down’ on the field.”
It has to do with reputation. It has to do with character. Does a person have a track record of consistency? If you are looking for someone to manage your finances you look for someone who has a track record of being faithful and successful in handling the finances of others. Do they treat the one with little the same as the one with much? Are they consistent, are they diligent?
If we look for faithfulness and consistency why wouldn’t we expect the same from the Lord? That is why we see in the parable of the talents the one who was unfaithful had his one talent given to the man who produced the greatest return.
I like the challenge of Solomon, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV)
Prayer for today…. Lord help us in our lives to be consistent and persistent in what we “take on.” May our love for You be demonstrated by doing all the we do for your glory and in a way that reflects Your excellence.