How Important is Faithfulness
article by Clare Mooney
The Bible puts a high premium on faithfulness.
Source: Photos.comThe Bible puts a high premium on faithfulness. In Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, we read that faithfulness, or being faithful, is a fruit of God’s Holy Spirit and therefore a Christ-like characteristic. There is no finer example of faithfulness than God Himself. Throughout the history of Israel, God remained faithful to His people. Nowadays, there is so little emphasis on faithfulness in friendship, marriage or anything that it is encouraging to know that our God is forever faithful . Lamentations 3:22-23 [22] It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. is one of many scriptures that confirms this truth: “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness, His mercies begin afresh each morning” (New Living Translation) .
Most mornings during my devotional time, I like to sing a song to the Lord. My favorite choice is “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” hymn 147 in the UCG Hymnal. I find that it strengthens my spirit and builds my faith to be reminded of God’s faithfulness to me. The practice of meditating on God’s faithfulness makes me more and more grateful for God’s goodness to me. To start each day, knowing that my Heavenly Father will shepherd me every step of the way increases my confidence in His love for me and deepens my trust in Him.
Following a recent study in 1 Kings, I meditated on the importance that God places on faithfulness in those whom He has called in each age. In 1 Kings 15 is an account of the reign of King Asa, the direct descendant of King David. King Asa ruled the Kingdom of Judah during a difficult period in their history. There was ongoing tension between Judah and Israel. King Asa reigned in Jerusalem for 41 years, and it is worth noting the words used to sum up his righteous reign: “Asa remained faithful to the Lord throughout his life” (1 Kings 15:14But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. NLT). In the same chapter, we read about theunfaithfulness of Nadab, the King of Israel: “He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his father, continuing the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.” (1 Kings 15:25-26 [25] And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. [26] And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. ). Nadab died at the hand of an assassin named Baasha who took over the rule of the Kingdom of Israel, thus ending the dynasty of Jeroboam, and proving the word of the Lord through the prophet Ahijah (1 Kings 14:14Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now.). This further affirms that God can be trusted to fulfill His Word.
To be faithful means to be loyal, devoted, dependable, trustworthy. Are we loyal to God and His ways, especially His Holy Days, keeping all and not just some of them (Deuteronomy 5:29O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!)? Are we devoted in our daily devotions or are we just going through the motions (Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.)? Are we dependable, always available to do good works as the fruit of our faith (James 2:17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.)? Are we trustworthy? When we receive God’s guidance, do we obey it? (James 1:5-8 [5] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. [8] A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. ).
How important is faithfulness? According to God’s Word, being faithful is a crucial criteria for admittance to the eternal Kingdom of God. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant ; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’”(Matthew 25:21His lord said unto him, 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 thy lord., emphasis added).
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