RSSWhat is faithfulness?
Jun 01
God Thoughts faith, holiness, obedience, righteousness 1 Comment
Awesome message tonight at the young adult service. Really fits in with the kind of stuff that has been brought up lately: obedience, righteousness, holiness. Now we can add faithfulness and as we understand it, it can bring profound changes to our lives.
The dictionary describes “faithful” as: loyal, constant, true, devoted, unswerving, staunch, steadfast, dedicated, committed, trusty, trustworthy (or “worthy of trust”), dependable, reliable. These are some powerful, yet intimidating, words. Keeping these words in mind, look at this scripture:
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Tim 2:2, NKJV)
Paul is talking about men that are trustworthy, dedicated, and loyal — to such men is the Gospel given in order to teach others. This shows us that Jesus wants to trust us with things, and know that we are going to be faithful to them. Just like an employer wants an employee that is dedicated and loyal, so does Jesus want followers that are dedicated and loyal.
If you’re not faithful, you’re unfaithful. There is no middle ground. The antonyms for “faithful” from the dictionary are: traitorous, unreliable. This is the definition of being unfaithful.
Seeing what the words mean (beyond a “spiritual” definition of faith) really lets us know why most people desire to hang out with, know, and associate with faithful people — whatever they are faithful to. Faithful to their spouse, their job, their family, their church. No one wants to associate with people that abandon their spouse, come to work late and do a half-hearted job, leave their family to go drink at the bar, or jump around from church to church. People are drawn to faithful people. At the same time, people are repelled by unfaithful people.
Look what Jesus says about being faithful:
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.” (Luke 16:10, NKJV)
This is a very real truth and there is spiritual principle here. I know this for fact when my wife and I started tithing years ago, despite the fact that we felt we couldn’t afford it. We wanted to be obedient to God’s Word, so we were faithful in the little that we had, and God gave us increase. We had proven that He could trust us with money, and He has been faithful to provide for both our needs and our wants. His Grace was sufficient, and while there are always times that are tight, usually it is due to us spending money on something silly, rather than the tithe being the burden.
The same holds true with employment. To the employee that is loyal and dedicated in their job, regardless of how menial it might be, to them is given favour over those who despise their job or don’t do a good job. People notice and appreciate good work! This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll receive promotions overnight or higher wages, but it could very well mean that when it is time for the axe to come down, you survive the cuts. I have experienced this scenario personally as well.
Keep in mind, however, that there is always a test. Just as we get tested before we can get a drivers license, or tested in school before we can move on in studies, so we are tested in life. The test is what determines whether we learned what we needed to learn and can progress, or whether we need to learn the lesson again. There will always be a test to see if you are faithful. Your loyalty will come into question, whether by people or circumstances or temptations. Loyalty to your marriage, your family, your job, your church, your relationship with Jesus. These things will be tested, and your faithfulness (or unfaithfulness) will prove itself.
Will you pass the test? Will you be faithful in the little so that you can be faithful with much? Will you tell God that you will tithe when He gives you more finances? Will you get into ministry when the church is bigger? Will you have fellowships and visits in your home, but only when God gives you a bigger house?
Are you a Christian that tells God what your definition of Christianity is and think that because Jesus loves you, it’s ok? That it’s ok to compromise? That it’s ok to hold back? That it’s ok, because Jesus loves me and I can do no wrong, so here God, this is what I’m willing to do but don’t ask for more because I’m in this for convenience and ease?
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12, NKJV)
There are two things to note here. The first is that as Christians we weren’t called to a life of convenience and ease. We are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Reverence! Worship! This is Almighty God we serve!
Secondly, Paul is talking about faithfulness in the same verse. He is saying to the church that they were obedient, faithful, when he was with them but they are also faithful, when he is not there. Isn’t that the sign of a good employee? Someone who can work without direct supervision, or their manager breathing down their back having to correct them or encourage them or keep them on track?
Isn’t that also the sign of a good Christian? Someone who is motivated to get into the Word, to pray, to worship, to live a life of witness to those around them — without having God on their back telling and correcting, but simply doing it because they just plain old love God and want to be obedient and loyal and faithful?
Good intentions don’t count when it comes to faithfulness. In the words of Yoda: “Do, or do not. There is no ‘try’.” (sorry for the Star Wars reference, but it is far too relevant!) People fail the test of faithfulness because they are self-absorbed, and self-seeking. They are against unity and want to do things on their own, being a Lone Ranger. This is not what God has called us to be, or to do.
The final point to mention is that we need more Elishas. Elisha was the kind of man we all need to be. He was tenacious, he was loyal, he was dedicated — both to serving Elijah and also to serving God. He did not waiver, he didn’t go behind Elijah’s back to start his own thing. He didn’t go into ministry on his own until Elijah’s mantle was given to him. If you read 2 Kings 2, you see that Elisha refused to leave Elijah despite being told to stay behind. Three times Elijah asks him to stay behind and three times Elisha vows “As surely as the Lord lives I will not leave you”. Twice he has the prophets telling him that Elijah is going to be taken away from him that day, and not once did this disheartening news make him turn from following.
His faithfulness was rewarded. But it wasn’t Elijah that rewarded him. It was God. God rewarded Elisha’s faithfulness and granted him what he requested (the double-portion). But if Elisha would have been unfaithful, even once, he never would have received what he asked for. Only because he was faithful, did he receive the double-portion of Elijah’s spirit. If he had tried to do things his way, or fast-tracked God’s plan and become a prophet before it was his time, he would have lost out on the huge blessing God had in store for him. His faithfulness earned him that.
Thanks, Pastor Mark, for the awesome message. Hopefully I did it some justice with my post. My spirit got all wound up with this message because it’s so true and so relevant (to anyone, whether you are a believer or not). My prayer is that you find it relevant in your life, just as I find it relevant in mine, and you ask yourself the hard question (and answer it honestly): Am I faithful? And if so, what are you faithful to? Are you faithful in the little things? Are you faithful in all things? A friend once said that if you had a glass of water that was 99% water and 1% cyanide, it’s still poisonous. If you are 99% faithful but 1% unfaithful, don’t kid yourself — you’re still unfaithful.
Don’t preempt God. Don’t put your selfish desires before His — even if you desperately want to do something for God. Remember Waiting on the Lord? Be faithful with what He’s given you, and if it is a vision, hold fast to it but don’t preempt God into starting or doing something when the time isn’t right. Seek God, pray, and He will reveal His good and perfect timing. Until then, be faithful in what He has already given you, and prove your faithfulness, and then rest assured that God will lead you out into bigger things, for His glory and His Name’s sake.
It’s all about His Name, not yours, and certainly not mine. Be patient, be obedient, be faithful. Be worthy of trust.