Faithfulness

Faithful

Being faithful is being filled with loyalty towards a God we’ve never actually seen. Being faithful is trusting in this invisible God and doing those things he’s asked us to do, whether we’ve read his will in the Bible or whether we just have an inward knowledge that God wants us to do something. The Bible character, Abraham, is said to be the father of the faithful. Can you imagine being told to go to a place that you had never been before by a voice out of nowhere? Can you imagine traveling with your family over miles and miles of desert, taking many weeks of travel by foot and by camel? In the book of Hebrews we are told, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:8-10, NKJV).

Is faithfulness important to God? Yes! God is searching for faithful, reliable servants that He can count on. Read the following text to find out the blessing God will give the faithful: “Are you a wise and faithful servant of the Lord?  “Blessings on you if I return and find you faithfully doing your work. I will put such faithful ones in charge of everything I own” (Matthew 24:46, TLB)! It’s exciting to think that God sees all we do! As He watches us He looks for us to be doing His deeds of kindness. For those who do this God will give greater opportunities.

How can I, as a young person, show faithfulness? The Bible has a lot to say to children. When the mother’s brought their children to Jesus to be blessed, He said, “Let the children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as they” (Mark 10:14, TLB). Later in that same chapter Jesus tells a young man to “keep the commandments” and “follow me” (verses 18 and 21). Giving your heart to Jesus, obeying the 10 Commandments and following Him are ways to show faithfulness. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be will with you and you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1, NKJV)

Should Christians always be expected to follow the truth? Paul writes, “Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more every way like Christ who is the Head of His body, the church” (Ephesians 4:15-16 TLB). Jesus is always truthful. Christians demonstrate Christianity by being truthful, faithful, just like their Lord.

What happens to Christians who are faithful? Well sometimes it might be tough to be faithful, but in the end the rewards are eternal. Read the following two texts from the Bible: “All men will hate you because of Me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22 NIV). “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. …Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10, NIV).

How does God help me to be faithful? It’s in the Bible, “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, TLB). Wouldn’t it be great if there were a tree that we could just pick fruits like these? But there isn’t, however, faithfulness and these other fruits are developed in our lives, in our character by God.

Being faithful is being constant and firm in what you have been called to do, even in the smallest of matters. It’s in the Bible, “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). When we do something God asks of us to the best of our ability, God sees us as being faithful, no matter how small it may be.

Will God be faithful to me? Yes! You can count on God to be faithful!  Please read the following Bible texts: “For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does” (Psalm 33:4 NIV). “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). “Hear my prayer, O LORD; answer my plea, because you are faithful to your promises” (Psalm 143:1, TLB).

God invites you to be faithful to Him. He will enable you to be faithful in your work, school, and whatever you do.  In return, God will be faithful to you.