Are We Faithful to God?
Last week, we talked about being God’s workmanship, and that He is faithful to complete the good work in us even when we feel that we have been neglected by God, or when we feel like giving up on a certain brother or sister. We often remember Phil 1:6 which says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” But, as God is faithful, He expects us, His children, to be faithful to Him. The Apostle Paul challenged the Corinthian Christians to be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (1 Cor 15:58a).
The Faithfulness of God
Repeatedly, in the Bible, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness:
- “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.” (Deut 7:9)
- “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.” (Ps 36:5)
- “O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? Or to thy faithfulness round about thee?” (Ps 89:8)
- “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations; thou has established the earth, and it abideth.” (Ps 119:90)
- “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
- “For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of
God without effect?” (Rom 3:3) - “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor 1:9) - “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are
able.” (1 Cor 10:13) - “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”
(2 Thess. 3:3) - “Let us hold the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).” (Heb 10:23)
- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1:9)
Because our God is a faithful God, reliable and trustworthy, we believe His Word and know that He will fulfill what He has promised. Those who believe and trust this faithful God will discover that He never fails to do what He has said in His Word, the Bible. Even when circumstances in life seem depressing and discouraging, our faithful God gives us the strength to face and overcome them.
Faithfulness – part of Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Every follower of Christ will claim that he or she is faithful to God. Most will believe that they are faithful in attending church, reading the Bible, giving to missions and building fund, and more. But Proverbs 20:6 says, “Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?”
What characterizes a faithful person? Is it in the things he does or in his relationships with other people, or is it in the way he relates to God? Indeed, because of the frailty of man, our faithfulness depends largely on God’s faithfulness towards us.
Faithfulness is part of the nine-fruit of the Holy Spirit that a Christian should display (Gal 22-23). If a believer is a faithful one, he will also display the other characteristics of this fruit. His life will be transformed every day, and he will become like Christ, who is the image God. Truly, as we spend more time in fellowship with God, we will become like Him. If we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Gal 5:16) We learn to surrender our selfish needs and desires, and learn to live in the Spirit, and thus lead lives which are pleasing in God’s sight. We will learn to love others, be joyful at all times, be at peace with God, others and self. We will be patient in tribulation, and with others. We will be gentle towards all, even the unlovable. We will show goodness towards others, even those who do not deserve it. We will be humble and meek, and exercise self-control even when others misjudge us.
Faithfulness to God – A Choice We Make
When a man and a woman decide to get married, they pledge to remain faithful to each other in their marriage vows. Similarly, when we believe in Jesus and decide to follow Him, we also promise to be faithful to God. As we declare our commitment to God (especially in baptism), we promise to obey His Word and to love Him with all our heart, mind and soul. As a married person no longer lives according to his own pleasures, so a Christian no longer lives according to what he desires, but according to what God desires of him.
Faithfulness to God – A Result of the Commitment Made
When we love God, we decide to serve Him too. When we serve God because of what He has done for us (through the death of Christ on the cross), we will then serve Him with joy in our hearts, and continue to serve Him even when things do not turn out the way we desire. Serving God therefore does not depend on our feelings, whims and fancies, but on the fact that we have decided to serve Him, no matter what happens. We remain faithful in service even when others do not show appreciation, or when what we do seemingly does not bear fruit. We serve God, not men. We are faithful to God because He remains faithful to us.
Faithfulness to God – A Requirement Of Stewards
God has appointed us all to be stewards of the talents and gifts He has given to us. As stewards, we are to give an account of the tasks/things that He has assigned to us.
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Cor 4:2)
What are some of the areas in which God requires us to be faithful?
i) Being responsible and caring parents
ii) Being obedient children
iii) Communing with God in prayer and reading His Word daily
iv) Keep the Sabbath day holy
v) Loving others – think of others first
vi) Returning to God in tithes and offerings
vii) Serving Him with gifts/talents He has given to us
viii) Giving or caring for those in need
ix) Feeding the flock
x) Fleeing from youthful lusts
xi) Witnessing to others
xii) Teaching others
Faithfulness to God – Following Christ’s Example
It is not easy to be faithful to God. Take the instances in which we are found wanting every day: we don’t always turn up for work or school on time (let alone be on time for worship service); we don’t always display our carpark coupons truthfully (sometimes we don’t even display it); we break traffic rules when no one is watching, or when there is no traffic camera nearby; we don’t always submit our assignments on time; we don’t always tell the truth, neither do we love our neighbours as ourselves. We ask God to forgive us, but can be very unforgiving towards those who misunderstand or offend us.
How then can we be found faithful to God? The answer is in Christ’s great example. For Christ, His meat was to “do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.” (Jn 4:34). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, “took upon himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil 2:7-8)
“Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” (Heb 5:8-9)
We can learn to be faithful to God by following our Saviour’s example. We can learn to be faithful in one thing first, and then another. Faithfulness grows from one area to another area which is lacking in our lives. We learn to be faithful to our parents, spouses, children, friends, teachers, employer, colleagues, church, pastor, leaders. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” (Lk 16:10) If we are faithful in a few things, God will reward us and make us rule over many things.
When we see Christ again, He will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord.” (Matt 25:21)
May God find us faithful in that which He has called us to do.
Pastor Bob Phee