Faithfulness
We live in a world of lies, deceit, fraud, double standards, and broken promises. Truthfulness and fulfilled promises are on the low end of the scale. Even the expectancy of truthfulness and faithfulness is ever waning.
Man’s behavior should not surprise us. Scripture verifies the condition of man.
Psalm 12:1: Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
Proverbs 20:6: Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?
Where do we go to find what a faithful person looks like? We go to the Word of God to see the source of all that is good and faithful.
The Old Testament vividly demonstrates the character that the New Testament describes. The life of Daniel the prophet is a personal study of a man and his devotion to his God. He devoted himself to prayer for his people, to be fiercely true to the Law, and to stand firm under tremendous pressure to worship the gods of the foreign land where he was being held captive. In all this, Daniel maintained his integrity, not only to the God he served, but also before those who tried to discredit him. He maintained his life of faithfulness through it all.
Daniel 6:3-4: Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.
Nothing of which to accuse Daniel, no negligence, no corruption; instead, faithfulness.
We are not all called to interpret dreams to the monarch of a great nation such as Babylon, or dare to endanger our lives to refuse honoring a pagan idol. We may not be called to travel through hostile territories establishing churches. We are not called by faith to give birth to the promised heir as was Sarah. How many men do we know like Moses, who was given the daunting task of challenging the Pharaoh of Egypt for the liberation of God’s people?
What did all of these heroes of the faith have in common? They were faithful.
Maybe we can relate more to a man named Tychicus. If you were given the task to write what you know about him, could you come up with 50 words?
He was a companion to the apostle Paul in the ministry. Very little space is allotted to him in the grand scheme of the Scriptures, but we would be most honored to have his legacy of faith.
Ephesians 6.21: But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
Colossians 4:7-8: As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information. For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts;
Included in the list comprised of the fruit of the Spirit we find “faithfulness,” which is a result of being led by the Spirit. It is not an attribute that we come by naturally. What is natural to man are lies, deceit, and fraud. As believers in Jesus Christ we have the indwelling Spirit to enable us to do what Scripture commands; that is, to be faithful.
This same Scripture declares over and over again, the complete faithfulness of our great God.
Psalm 119:89-90: Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands.
Revelation 1:5: and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.
Our faith relies on the character of our God who faithfully performs His promises.
Romans 4:21: and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
No greater words of the Lord could be said to us than, “well done, good and faithful servant.”