There is an important factor that belongs to wisdom that ought to be given fair treatment in our life education and self-evaluation. It is an important factor in maturity, loyalty, and integrity. We call it sustainability. It is far more important than we realize in the functioning of individuals, programs, cultures, and families. One ought to give time and formation to it as a major issue in the good life, and the realities found in an imperfect world. Failure of sustainability can betray us, in life and faith.
During my first graduate years I was asked to pastor a church about five miles from the campus. I accepted, and remember with great appreciation, the experience. I was thrilled when a friendly fellow, excellent in impression, creative in mind and spirit came into the church. He proposed an excellent and doable program for the growing youth numbers. I promised my support for whatever he might need to move the program forward. Within a few weeks it was flourishing, with new faces almost weekly. Suddenly everything stopped. I remembered that I had met others like him. Full of ideas, and energy, they simply had little or no sustainability. They lost interest. This was the first time I was directly affected. I was deeply disappointed. Within a few months he had moved on to something else, and I never heard from him again. Similar stories multiply, and range to all generations, and contexts, good and evil. This may explain some of Judas’ conduct. Judas appears to have been unable to sustain himself in the program that Jesus outlined for the disciples who saw sincerity in Judas, the treasurer for the disciple team. When the humble hard work increased to achieve spiritual goals over mortal ones, Judas wavered. It happened also with a fine fellow, John Mark, and the Apostle Paul was extremely disappointed. John Mark became the cause of break between Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas, partly motivated by family, determined to win in some way with John Mark. He must have succeeded for some years later Paul wrote that he sought John Mark, for he is profitable to me for ministry. John Mark recovered. Demas may not have. Demas, a starter, needed maturity. We might multiply the stories from Scripture and history.
There are elements of loyalty related to our theme. Loyalty does not mean only that I continue following in the train I may have followed in the past. However, if I leave it I hold respect for those who, in a context of ideals, tried to do something that I no longer support. I make clear my own beliefs and feelings, even if they are in significant disagreement with whatever preceded. The Apostle Paul was converted, and immediately made a 180 degree turn. He did not berate the priests or deny his heritage, even though he now believed in Christ, and was seen as an enemy to his tradition. He seemed to maintain friendship with Gamaliel, and Gamaliel reached out to him. On an occasion, Paul apologized to a priest who treated him badly. They would certainly disagree on major issues. On another occasion he yielded to an invitation to honor the tradition of circumcision. He seems to have regretted it, but he wanted to show his good will. He may have been misunderstood in his efforts of good will. If erring, he erred in the right direction.
I have met many persons who did not sustain themselves in church loyalty, or in prayer, or in stewardship, or in jobs, or in their families. Some persons are too self-centered to be loyal, to follow-through to well-formed lives, habits and attitudes – to finish well. We are sometimes appalled at the number of presumably intelligent persons who do not see their work to the finish line, for their children, or their lives. They can’t sustain maturity, even though they glimpse it as a good thing. God calls us to faithfulness. It is a virtue of great importance, and invariably appears as part of the evaluation of our lives – that a person be found faithful. One of the God-given compliments to a person is to be declared faithful. With God it is not wealth, fame, beauty, power, success (in our meaning), but faithfulness to purpose that is generally managed in service to others. The best human legacy is found somewhere in love, humility and faithfulness. None of these are to be bought or sold. There may be counterfeits that may seem to hold for a period of time, but they have no substance to ultimate value. The substance of the world is not the substance of meaning to God. The natural will pass away: the spiritual will not. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020