A 100-year-old man recently won the Guinness World Record for working at the same company for an incredible 84 years. In a day and age when people jump jobs quicker than a caffeinated kangaroo, Walter Orthmann has worked for the same textile company in Brazil since when he was 15 years old.

Walter, who celebrated his 100^th birthday in April, wakes up at 5 am every day, exercises for an hour, eats breakfast, and then drives himself to work. “That is a commitment I don’t even feel anymore,” says Walter in one interview.

And the rest of us go, “Way to go, Walter.”

But beyond being wowed by Walter, there’s much we can draw from his work ethic to apply to our commitment to God. While I don’t know him personally, here is some “wisdom from Walter” that I think might be helpful to many of us.

He recognized the blessing of his job

Walter began working at the age of 15 because needed to support his family through a financial crunch. Eighty-four years later, he still loves his job. “When we do what we like, we don’t see the time go by,” he says in a news report.

You and I have the privilege of receiving an incredible assignment — being the children of God. But do we recognize and acknowledge the staggering blessing of receiving His grace? When we fall to our knees in humble recognition of God’s unmerited favor on our lives, we will long to serve Him with undivided hearts and persevere in our relationship with Him.

He built habits that cemented his commitment

Walter didn’t just punch in at the same place for 84 years. He didn’t just show up whenever he felt like it. He gave it his best. He built consistent habits that helped him stick with his responsibilities. He woke up at the same time every day and created routines that bolstered his commitment to the company.

We have a high and holy calling. But are we willing to make the sacrifices and develop rhythms to strengthen our commitment to God? Are we just “punching in” and watching the clock? Or are we investing in habits like reading the Word and spending time in prayer so we can be those “living sacrifices” for God rather than lukewarm Christians who prefer to dip our toes in the water rather than diving right in?

He didn’t do it alone

In a CNN interview Walter thanks his friends for getting him through the years. He seems to realize that he didn’t make it through eight decades of working in isolation but depended on friends to see him through.

You know what? We have a Great and Powerful Friend to see us through our commitment. One of my favorite verses in the Bible reads: ^“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16: 9). God doesn’t expect us to stay committed to Him in our own strength. He doesn’t even just bestow strength on us when we reach out to Him. He — the God of the whole wide world — searches for those who are committed to Him in order to bolster and encourage them.

Friends, today, when we speak of staying committed to God through daily actions, we may be labeled as “legalistic.” And maybe it can be. But I’m willing to take that risk of appearing to stick to rules if it means I can grow in my commitment to serving God.

As Walter says in one news report, “Stay focussed on the commitment.” While he may be speaking of loyalty to an organization, we have the privilege of sticking close to the One who orders the whole universe. Now, that’s a commitment worth keeping. Especially since it is He who keeps and sustains us through it all.

 

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