22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
You may be familiar with a college out of Michigan named Hillsdale College. It's been around since 1844, according to its mission statement on its website, and was "founded...by men and women 'grateful to God for the inestimable blessings' resulting from civil and religious liberty and 'believing that the diffusion of learning is essential to the perpetuity of these blessings.'" The statement goes on to say:
As a nonsectarian Christian institution, Hillsdale College maintains “by precept and example” the immemorial teachings and practices of the Christian faith.
A few weeks ago, the Chairman of Hillsdale's Board of Trustees spoke to its Commencement ceremony, according to the school's website. In the address he said:
“I am always reluctant to get into the ‘world is falling apart’ mode because people my age have always felt the world is falling apart… but there does seem to be something more insidious going on this time in our politics and social media, COVID, in our education establishment, or whichever you think the guilty entity might be. But it does seem to be a growth in animosity between and among individuals...”The speaker added, “Those of you graduating today have so much to offer the world, whether it is in business, health care, education, raising a family, or a hundred other ways. Your Hillsdale education and the values you learned here will make this country and this world a better place. But, I humbly ask that you also strive to practice civility in everything you do.”
This speaker has been on the Hillsdale Board of Trustees since 2002, having served as Vice Chairman from 2003-2019 and as Chairman since 2019. But, he had been in his occupation, prior to his recent retirement, for much longer, since 1981. Hillsdale President Larry Arnn said about him, "He is retiring after an unprecedentedly long career at the top. There have been huge changes in the media, and his show is a constant — he has been a constant,” adding, “Above all, what is important to him — his family, his work, his achievements, his life — he is trying to be a good fellow and take care of those he loves and do a good job at his job. I should say, on behalf of the College, that it is grateful, as it has profound reason to be..."
Well, this man may have been promoting helping people acquire a personal fortune by spinning a large wheel, but he seems to know what is truly valuable. I'm talking about Pat Sajak, who recently hosted his final episode of the legendary TV game show, Wheel of Fortune. The Hillsdale website says he's hosted over 7000 episodes.
In an interview with GOOD MORNING AMERICA, he discussed his thoughts on his departure from the show.But, Pat notes that he has other things he plans to do in the next season of his life, stating, “Could I still do it? Yeah, I think I could for a while. There’s also some other things in life that we’d like to do, and I’m enjoying this last year. It’s been a great 40 years, and I’m looking forward to whatever’s ahead.”
“Surprisingly okay,” he said when asked how he felt about leaving the show. “You know, this was announced a long time ago, almost a year ago, so I’ve had time to sort of get used to it. But I’m enjoying taking it all in and reflecting on a great run. I do know that somewhere along the line, we became more than a popular show, we became part of the popular culture, and more importantly, we became part of people’s lives. And that’s been awfully gratifying.”
So, what do we learn from Mr. Sajak? Well, for one thing, I think longevity and loyalty are two admirable characteristics. Of course, I speak from the standpoint of someone who has been at this ministry for over 33 years. Media jobs fluctuate, and I have known my share of that. But, I think we should all work at our jobs as unto the Lord and possess a sense of loyalty to Christ and our employer to do the job we do for as long as He calls us to do. Some people seek upward mobility or financial advancement to the extent that they can never be settled, never be content, and I think that could possibly inhibit him or her from doing their very best. We should always do our work as unto the Lord, as the Bible teaches. As the President of Hillsdale College stated, Pat Sajak "...he is trying to be a good fellow and take care of those he loves and do a good job at his job."
And, Pat made a statement on Good Morning America, that is telling and should be a source of motivation for us. He said that more than the show's popularity or cultural impact, "we became part of people’s lives." I think that is consistent with a Biblical work ethic. We are people who are called to serve. To work to provide for our families. To honor the people for whom we work. And, to recognize that we have the potential to touch people's lives - ultimately for the glory of God. Jesus taught His disciples that He did not come to be served, but to serve; and as He said, to lay down His life for us. In an age in which the nature of customer service is changing and in some instances, declining, a truly service-minded individual can make a huge difference. Christ gives us the ability to do that, because we are people who humble ourselves before Him, loving Him and loving others.
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