Consistency and Faithfulness

Consistency and faithfulness are good solid words that describe traits we should all nurture in our lives. I’ve been thinking about those traits lately because I’ve been thinking about some people I know who model them.

If I remember right, I was talking to someone recently about the different people who have impacted our lives for the positive. As I examined each of the people that I have admired I wondered what it was about them that caught and kept my attention, and these 2 traits kept creeping up.

They are actually 2 different character traits; consistency has to do with you they are and whether or not you change much over the years, where faithfulness shows how you behave themselves toward others and how well you keep your promises. One is internal and the other is external. And yet, they are so closely entwined and similar that we can easily substitute one for the other.

If you’re consistent, people know that no matter what you’re going through you will not change who you are as circumstances change. For instance, I know of a young girl that will either be nice or hateful, depending on what external pressure she is feeling. A consistent person will always relate to you in a nice and gentle way (hopefully) even if their world is crashing down around them. Think of Ashley in ‘Gone With The Wind’ compared to Miss Scarlet. No matter what happened to Ashley negatively, she always had a smile and thoughtful word. Whereas the only thing consistent about Scarlet was her inconsistency.

The kinds of people I was thinking of are always nice, gentle, patient, thoughtful and caring toward others. No matter pressures are on them from their jobs, kids, family members or friends they always greet you with a smile and an honest “How do you do?” And I emphasize honest.

Faithfulness is exhibited by how our consistent lifestyle is shown in relation to our promises, whether stated or implied. If we promise to be somewhere you can count on us to be there unless seriously detained. You don’t have to wonder if someone is going blowing you off or are lying. Their lifestyle gives you the assurance that they can be trusted. How can their lifestyle indicate that over time? Well, they show up even when they know there will be un-pleasantries involved. In other words, they don’t shy away from a fight or a situation that they know will cause them pain or where they know they will suffer loss. If a person is faithful in the hard times, they will be faithful anytime and you can count on them.

Say your friend is going through a tough time and it’s effecting their disposition to the point where everyone dreads seeing them. All they do is gripe and complain and snap at those they love because they are sick or worried to the point of distraction. A faithful friend will visit them anyway, endure the unpleasant conversation, smile and maybe even offer a prayer for their quick recovery.

I knew of a guy who visited his friend often when he was going through treatments for cancer. He had to drive 20 or so miles to get to the hospital and it would have been so much easier for him to just stay home, but he didn’t. He got his things together every few days and drove to the hospital to spend time with his friend. The friend eventually died, but he died knowing someone loved him, and loved him enough to spend time with him. Faithfulness is hidden away until it’s inconvenient, then it’s like a light that has been turned on and you can’t see it until it’s dark outside.

A faithful person has to be able to endure hardship and has to have some kind of inner peace and joy. Without that inner peace and steadiness they’d simply choose the easiest path in every situation and would be known as ‘unfaithful’. Having an ‘self’ built on a solid foundation makes a faithful person. Those who are not faithful are those that are easily distracted by the fulfillment of the moment and pay no attention to the cost. Their only concern about the cost is that someone else will pay it.

So, the question is, “am I a faithful and consistent man”? Do I shine in the darkness and am I always the same person no matter what pressures are pushing in on me? I always judge myself harshly and dishonestly and besides, it’s hard to judge yourself rightly on these points, but I hope so. And I’ll continue to strive to be.

Wouldn’t it be great if our tombstones simply said, “Faithful and Consistent”?