There are people in this world who may be considered boring because they just consistently do their job without a bunch of fanfare. Day in and day out they are the ones upon whom you can count to be faithful. These are the people that most people overlook, but when there is a need these are the ones to whom people turn. Think of the baseball player who regularly plays flawless defense and can be counted upon for a hit or two in every game. Think of the football player who is an interior lineman whose name is not called but unfailingly plays his position with integrity. Think of the mechanic that does his job without fail and to whom you can turn when your car is failing knowing he will not find a way to gouge you. Think of the mother who faithfully cares for her children. Think of … well, you get the point. Because faithfulness does not draw out special attention it is often considered as boring or unnecessary.
On the other hand, God has declared faithfulness as a special virtue which attracts His attention. Consider the words of the Lord Jesus Christ on this subject:
Luke 16:10–11 (ESV) — 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
Matthew 25:21 (ESV) — 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
We also find the principle of faithfulness taught in the reminder that whatever we have in the way of time, talent, gifts, etc. we are merely stewards which are judged by the standard of faithfulness.
1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV) — 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) — 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
Of course, God has the right to demand faithfulness from us because He is the standard of faithfulness and we count on Him to live up to that standard. What if He were not faithful and true or put it another way, what if His faithfulness was like our faithfulness which often has a bunch of holes in it? The words below wouldn’t mean much if God were unfaithful to His word, would it? His promises would be void but the testimony of God in His word and throughout history is that His faithfulness is, as the Psalmist says, “extended to the heavens and to clouds above.” We have hope of eternal life because God cannot lie, and we have reason to go to Him in prayer because He is faithful to His word. We sing about it, we rehearse it when we go to God in prayer, and we have reason to expect great things from Him because the Triune God is faithful. What an attribute!
Deuteronomy 7:9–10 (ESV) — 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 10 and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face.
Psalm 36:5 (ESV) — 5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
Psalm 89:1–2 (ESV) — 1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
As we count on God’s faithfulness, and He is the standard, so He expects us to be faithful in all that we do. In other words, no job is too small to avoid giving our undivided attention and effort. Consider the following scriptures that demonstrate the value of faithfulness by comparisons to help us understand the value of being faithful
Proverbs 13:17 (ESV) — 17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
Proverbs 14:5 (ESV) — 5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
Proverbs 20:6 (ESV) — 6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?
Proverbs 25:13 (ESV) — 13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his master
Proverbs 27:6 (ESV) — 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Proverbs 28:20 (ESV) — 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 25:19 (ESV) — 19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
Consider then, the place of being faithful in the church as faithful learners or disciples that not only have a teachable spirit but also take what is learned to disciple others. That is God’s system of personal growth and maturity – to learn from someone and then take what you learn and teach someone. Too often people are trained or taught, as one old preacher said, “far beyond their service.” In other words, they have learned much but have been UNFAITHFUL when it comes to teaching others.
2 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV) — 1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
What about you? Are you a faithful steward of the grace of God that He has bestowed upon you with the gifts He has given you and the opportunities He has placed before you? He is looking for faithfulness, something that you never get away from His expectation. He says He is looking for true followers to be faithful right unto death itself.
Revelation 2:10 (ESV) — 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Can faithfulness be observed in your life?
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
