Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Wayne Gretzky won five goal-scoring titles, eleven Art Ross trophies, and won the Hart nine times. He had an NHL record 92-goal season, another eighty goal season, and two more 70-goal seasons, and is tied with Mike Bossy for the most 60-goal seasons (5) and 50-goal seasons (9). Gordie Howe led the NHL in goals five times, won six Art Ross, and won six Hart Trophies. Brett Hull had three consecutive 70-goal seasons (scoring 86 in one of them) and won the Hart Trophy in 1991. Jaromir Jagr has five Art Ross trophies, a 62 goal season in 1995-96, won the Hart in 1999 and the Pearson on two other occasions. Marcel Dionne won the Art Ross in 1980 and won the Pearson twice. Phil Esposito posted the first 70-goal and first four 60-goal seasons in NHL history. He led the league in goals six times and won the Art Ross five. He won two Hart Trophies and won the Pearson on another occasion.
You're probably wondering what I told you all of that. Well, I told you all of that to tell you this: despite the fact that Mike Gartner never did any of that, he is the only other member of an exclusive club that includes all of the names above. They are the only seven players in NHL history to score at least 700 goals in their careers. His highest single season goal tally was 50, and he hit that only once. He never finished higher than fifth in the league in goals or tenth in points. He never finished any higher than fourth among right wingers in all-star balloting. How then, did he manage to score so many goals?
Remarkable consistency was the secret to Gartner's success. From the 1979-80 season through the 1993-94 season, he never failed to score at least 30 goals. After the lockout-shortened season that followed snapped his streak, he managed two more such seasons, bringing his total to 17. The consecutive and total 30 goal seasons marks are both NHL records. Mike Gartner was never among the game's elite players and he was never considered to be a super star, but his nearly unmatched level of consistency meant that he was dependable. Year in and year out, you knew what you were going to get from Mike Gartner. That earned him his spot among that elite company and in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
When people look at our lives and our Christian service, they should have the same feelings about us. "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." The way we live should be a matter of what you see is what you get. You don't have to be the best at whatever you do, but God does expect you to faithfully serve Him to the best of your ability.
Last night, my church had a watchnight service to welcome in the new year. The final preacher of the night is a member of the church, and when our pastor introduced him to the pulpit he said that he was going to give him the best compliment that he could think of to give to any Christian: he's faithful. Our measure of success in the Christian life is just that. The only thing God expects us to do is be available to Him. As it has been said, the best ability is availability. As the hymn "Our Best" reminds us, "our talents may be few, these may be small, but unto Him is due our best, our all.
It doesn't matter if you're a great singer, or a great teacher, or a great musician, or a great anything by the standards of your fellow man. It is true that your service should prove to them that you are dependable and faithful, but none of us should strive to impress any other person. We should strive to impress God. Mike Gartner's career is a good model as to how to do that. Don't try to match anyone else's best. Simply go out day by day and give your all to the Lord. It might not be noticed on earth, but it is noticed in Heaven. God will always reward faithfulness.
1 Corinthians 4:2
Wayne Gretzky won five goal-scoring titles, eleven Art Ross trophies, and won the Hart nine times. He had an NHL record 92-goal season, another eighty goal season, and two more 70-goal seasons, and is tied with Mike Bossy for the most 60-goal seasons (5) and 50-goal seasons (9). Gordie Howe led the NHL in goals five times, won six Art Ross, and won six Hart Trophies. Brett Hull had three consecutive 70-goal seasons (scoring 86 in one of them) and won the Hart Trophy in 1991. Jaromir Jagr has five Art Ross trophies, a 62 goal season in 1995-96, won the Hart in 1999 and the Pearson on two other occasions. Marcel Dionne won the Art Ross in 1980 and won the Pearson twice. Phil Esposito posted the first 70-goal and first four 60-goal seasons in NHL history. He led the league in goals six times and won the Art Ross five. He won two Hart Trophies and won the Pearson on another occasion.
You're probably wondering what I told you all of that. Well, I told you all of that to tell you this: despite the fact that Mike Gartner never did any of that, he is the only other member of an exclusive club that includes all of the names above. They are the only seven players in NHL history to score at least 700 goals in their careers. His highest single season goal tally was 50, and he hit that only once. He never finished higher than fifth in the league in goals or tenth in points. He never finished any higher than fourth among right wingers in all-star balloting. How then, did he manage to score so many goals?
Remarkable consistency was the secret to Gartner's success. From the 1979-80 season through the 1993-94 season, he never failed to score at least 30 goals. After the lockout-shortened season that followed snapped his streak, he managed two more such seasons, bringing his total to 17. The consecutive and total 30 goal seasons marks are both NHL records. Mike Gartner was never among the game's elite players and he was never considered to be a super star, but his nearly unmatched level of consistency meant that he was dependable. Year in and year out, you knew what you were going to get from Mike Gartner. That earned him his spot among that elite company and in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
When people look at our lives and our Christian service, they should have the same feelings about us. "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." The way we live should be a matter of what you see is what you get. You don't have to be the best at whatever you do, but God does expect you to faithfully serve Him to the best of your ability.
Last night, my church had a watchnight service to welcome in the new year. The final preacher of the night is a member of the church, and when our pastor introduced him to the pulpit he said that he was going to give him the best compliment that he could think of to give to any Christian: he's faithful. Our measure of success in the Christian life is just that. The only thing God expects us to do is be available to Him. As it has been said, the best ability is availability. As the hymn "Our Best" reminds us, "our talents may be few, these may be small, but unto Him is due our best, our all.
It doesn't matter if you're a great singer, or a great teacher, or a great musician, or a great anything by the standards of your fellow man. It is true that your service should prove to them that you are dependable and faithful, but none of us should strive to impress any other person. We should strive to impress God. Mike Gartner's career is a good model as to how to do that. Don't try to match anyone else's best. Simply go out day by day and give your all to the Lord. It might not be noticed on earth, but it is noticed in Heaven. God will always reward faithfulness.
No comments:
Post a Comment