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In the previous article, we covered examples of
faithfulness and what faithfulness means in practical terms:
(1)
Faithfulness means to obey God.
To be
faithful means to do what God says to do.
That means obeying His Word and following the leading of the
Holy Spirit.
(2)
Faithfulness means to choose right.
Our
choices can affect the outcome of a day, a month, a year, a life,
and even eternity. The first step in having successful results from
our choices in life is to make initial choices based in the Word.
The second step is to have corresponding action in relation to that
choice.
(3)
Faithfulness is being honest.
Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the
kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
A person who is faithful will speak the truth in love.
Be thankful for the people who will speak into your life and
correct you so you can be successful in life!
(4)
Faithfulness means to be loyal.
It is
especially important to be loyal to and defend those with whom we
have a close relationship, and those who are in authority over us.
The world would have us think that we don’t owe anything to
anyone. But to those who
have done something for us, sacrificed for us, prayed for us,
mentored us, we do owe something:
our loyalty.
(5)
Faithfulness means to be dependable.
Psalm
15:4 describes someone who keeps their promises, even when it hurts.
Being dependable is not always convenient, and sometimes
hurts our flesh. A
faithful person follows through on their commitments, even if it
means personal sacrifice, before moving on to something else.
(6)
Faithfulness is trusting God - even when the circumstances say
otherwise.
You don’t need to know
how something is going to happen; you just need to know
Who.
Faithfulness applies to any situation – big or
small. God will not
reward you for the position or worldly success you attain but He
will reward your faithfulness to do what He has called you to do.
In the parable of the talents, Jesus spoke of two
servants rewarded by their master for their faithfulness.
Matthew 25:14-23 (NIV)
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man
traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and
delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to
another two, and to another one, to each according to his own
ability, and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had
received the five talents went and traded with them, and made
another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained
two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the
ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of
those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had
received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying,
'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five
more talents beside them.' 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.'
He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you
delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents
besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful over a few things; I will make you
ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' "
Because the servants were faithful with what they
had, their master entrusted them with more.
But notice something about this passage of scripture.
The first servant multiplied his talents 100% - he was given
5 talents, and made an additional 5 more (roughly $2,500,000 in
today’s currency). What
was his reward?
The
second servant also multiplied his talents 100%.
He received two talents, and made an additional two more.
He didn’t even make half of what the first servant made, but
his reward was exactly the same.
Faithfulness
is what these two servants had in common that brought them the same
reward. Likewise, God will reward us as well when we are faithful
with the gifts and abilities he has given us, whether big or small,
public or private.
Ephesians 6:8 (NLT)
Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us
for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.
Our Father has promised us the rewards of
faithfulness. God
rewards believers in recognition of faithful service, both on earth
and in heaven. We know that Jesus is coming back for His
church. May we be found
faithful upon His triumphant return!
Revelation 22:12
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me,
and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
Consider this:
your faithfulness not only makes a difference in your life,
but also for the lives, and salvation of others.
I will leave you with this last story to encourage you to
live a life of faithfulness in these last days.
Someone is counting on you.
An elderly
preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before
the service. “Pastor,” said the man, “something must be wrong with
your preaching and your work. There’s been only one person added to
the church in a whole year, and he’s just a boy.”
The minister
listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling. “I feel
it all,” he replied, “but God knows I’ve tried to do my duty.” On
that day the minister’s heart was heavy as he stood before his
flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to
resign.
After everyone
else had left, that one boy came to him and asked, “Do you think if
I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher—perhaps a
missionary?”
Again tears welled
up in the minister’s eyes. “Ah, this heals the ache I feel,” he
said. “Robert, I see the Divine hand now. May God bless you, my boy.
Yes, I think you will become a preacher.”
Many years later an aged missionary returned to
Lord, help us to
be faithful. Then give us the grace to leave the results to you.
Source unknown
Proverbs 20:6 says,
“Many a
man claims to have unfailing love, but a
faithful man who can
find?” I want to
encourage you to be found faithful in all that you do.
How worthwhile it will be when you hear Him say, “Well done,
thou good and
faithful servant.”