In
2013 a wealthy collector paid $1.7 million for a ruined, unplayable violin. Its
value isn't in its musical quality but in its history, for it was played the
last time in April 1912 by a doomed musician named Wallace Hartley aboard the Titanic. Hartley and his fellow musicians
reportedly played the hymn "Nearer, My God, to Thee" as the vessel
slipped beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic. Hartley's body was
recovered ten days later with his violin strapped to him.
Historians
believe that after Hartley’s body was recovered the violin was given back to
his fiancée, Maria Robinson, and remained in her possession where it was all
but forgotten. In 2006, the damaged violin was found in the attic of a home in
Britain. It was authenticated through an engraved silver plate which read, “For
Wallace, on the occasion of our engagement. From Maria.”
One
writer commenting on the significance of Hartley’s violin said, “The Titanic was a microcosm of society,
because it carried different classes of people aboard that fateful night—a mixture
of rich and poor, educated and dumb, heroes and villains. Hartley and his
fellow band members, none of whom survived, were chief among the latter group. What
they were doing as they played on the sinking vessel was actually causing a
sense of calm on that ship. You could only wonder the mass pandemonium that would
have occurred otherwise. Their playing helped save a lot of lives.”[1]
When
I read that verse I was reminded of Paul last will and testament—Second Timothy—for
in the final sentences of that letter he wrote, “For I am already being poured
out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought
the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all
who have loved his appearing” (4:6-8).
Wallace
Hartley and Paul were a rare breed because of their faithfulness to the end. Faithfulness
is the primary quality God looks for in His servants (1 Cor. 4:2, Matt. 25:21).
It’s the ability to hang in with an assignment until you are through; the
willingness to fulfill responsibility year after year, not needing to be
praised or thanked or publicly encouraged in order to do so; to work unto the
Lord; to show up on time and to not leave until the work is done.
Survey
the Scriptures and you’ll find that there are myriad references to the different
disciplines we are called to fulfill. God wants us to be consistent in our
giving (Pro. 3:9-10), committed to prayer (1 Thess. 5:17), steadfast in good
doctrine (2 Thess. 2:15), faithful to our spouse (Eph. 5:33), regular in church
worship (Heb. 10:25), dedicated to good works (Gal. 6:10) and watchful for the Second
Coming of Christ (Mark 13:35).
This
list is not exhaustive, but you get the idea. There is always some place in the
Christian life to start being faithful. Do you have big dreams to accomplish
something great for God? I have some advice for you: Be faithful in the little
things for that truly pleases the Lord. Faithful servants never retire. You can
retire from your career, but you will never retire from serving God. -DM
[1] Per Nyberg and Chelsea J. Carter, “Violin
played as Titanic sank sells for $1.7 million,” CNN, 21 October 2013 <http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/19/world/europe/titanic-violin-auction/>
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