Faithfulness

Dogs are the most loyal and faithful pets we can ever have. They remain faithful and loyal to their owners until death. This is one characteristic that makes them a very popular pet. Faithfulness is defined as remaining loyal to someone or something without fail and being consistent in practicing it regardless of circumstances. This characteristic is expected in relationships like friendship, courtship, marriage, etc. In fact, these relationships thrive on this characteristic. If this factor fades out, the relationships too fades out. So this is a very important characteristic that we should build up as we grow and mature.

Let us open the treasure book to begin the treasure hunt.

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK

O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You,
I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Isaiah 25:1

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:9

Faithfulness is one major attribute of God. He cannot be otherwise. This is Him – very faithful in all His dealings, His words and His relationships. Even if we are not faithful, He remains faithful because our behavior or character does not change who He is. From everlasting to everlasting, He remains faithful. Being His children, we too should look up to our Father who is perfect and imitate Him as we learned in Code of Conduct.

A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 28:20

Being faithful brings us blessings whereas if we are unfaithful and follow evil shortcuts, punishment is sure to follow.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,  FAITHFULNESS,  gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

Galatians 5: 22- 25

Faithfulness is one among the nine fruits of the Spirit that will be seen in one’s life as an outcome of living and walking in the Spirit. So we should do a self check and see if these attributes are seen in our daily life. If not, then my friend we are still walking in flesh fulfilling its desires and passions. We should slow down and spend more time with God – reading scriptures, meditating, praying, talking and hearing from Him to subdue the desires of flesh and live according to the Spirit of God.

So to be faithful in our daily life, we should not walk in flesh fulfilling its evil desires and passions, but in the Spirit. In short, we should listen to the Holy Spirit living in us and walk under His guidance.

The parable of Faithful Servant – Matthew 24: 45-51

Jesus frequently used parables to teach His disciples. In this parable He taught them about the importance of being faithful in the kingdom of God.

A master had some servants with whom he left his home and everything he possessed. The servants were supported to carry out the duties assigned to them faithfully without fail. No one knew when the master will return. Few servants carried out their duties without fail while the majority lived their way and misbehaved with their colleagues thinking the master is not going to return anytime soon. But the master returned at an hour when no one was looking for him and when everyone least expected him. Who is considered a faithful and wise servant? The one whom the master found carrying out his duties without fail even at the least expected hour. Blessed is that servant. The faithful servant was rewarded and made ruler over everything the master possessed. Who were considered unfaithful? Those servants who were irresponsible and lived their way misbehaving with their fellow servants. The unfaithful servants were punished and thrown out of the house. 

The master here is Jesus and we are the servants. Jesus will return as King at an hour we least expect Him. Are we being faithful to Him by obeying His commands without fail? Or are we living our way and misbehaving with our fellow servants? If found faithful we will be rewarded, if not we will be punished and thrown into the lake of fire.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

If you have been living an unfaithful life, repent and confess your sins. Our God is faithful and just. He will forgive us and the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Treasures uncovered

Walk in the Spirit and walk in faithfulness to God, to be called a “Faithful servant” for life everlasting.

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for being faithful and unchanging from everlasting to everlasting. Help us to walk in the Spirit and be faithful in all our dealings with God and man. Help us to look onto you and be your imitators. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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