A Physical for the Christian Soul

When you think of faithfulness what comes to mind?  The first thing that comes to my mind are dogs.  They believe you, remain loyal to you in your darkest hour, trust you, love you no matter what, honor you, and the are always there.  They never ever think of leaving your side despite the times you not as faithful or loving to them.  These are the qualities I admire because I am not like that most of the time.  It seems to me that this unwavering faithfulness causes us to fall in love with them.

They are a great earthly example of the way that God is faithful to us.  God loves us, remains loyal in our darkest hour, honors and never leaves us despite not being as faithful to him.  As we struggle with what it means to be faithful, let us remind ourselves the six keys to faithfulness:

1. Faithfulness requires belief.

In order to have faith in something, you must believe in it. Do you believe in God and his message? Then you have faith.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

2. Faithfulness requires steadfastness when it's not required.

The common expression "hang in there with me" epitomizes this key. Enduring difficult situations when it's not deserved is an element of faithfulness. Spouses who endure the tragedy of adultery and remain with their spouses fall into this category. So does God who remains faithful to human beings despite their unfaithfulness to Him.

"The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding steadfast love and faithfulness" (Exodus 34:6)

3. Faithfulness requires trust.

Being faithful to someone requires trust. This is a difficult issue for many because it’s hard to be faithful to someone who routinely breaks your trust. Yet, God is not like that. He is the only one who has not broken his promises to you. He has always delivered you, provided for you, and loved you. He is trustworthy; in return we can be faithful.

4. Faithfulness requires devotion.

Faithfulness also means that your heart is captivated, that it has found the object of its desire. For instance, many will never cheat on their spouse because of their love (devotion), not simply because it is wrong (conviction). It’s the same for God. He faithful to us because of his immeasurable love for us (devotion), not solely due to his promises to us (his conviction).

5. Faithfulness requires honor.

If you are being faithful to someone, you tell the truth. It honors them. Faithful relationships are built on authenticity and transparency, never deceit. God has revealed the Truth to us; he is authentic; and he never lies.

"A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies." (Proverbs 14:5 ESV)

6. Faithfulness requires consistency.

Being faithful demonstrates that you are willing to be “there” over and over. This is very important to everyone including the poor and disabled. Afterthoughts for many of us, they crave consistent friendship and love, yet rarely find it. Yet, God is faithful to them as he is to the rest of us. He promises never to abandon nor forsake either of us …and he won’t; ever. Notice the special blessing found below when we faithfully address the needs of the downtrodden as God does.

"If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever." (Proverbs 29:14)

Looking through this lens, are you being faithful to your employer, you family, and to God? Tall order indeed. Think it’s impossible? It is if you attempt to be faithful under you own power. But armed with God’s power, it’s possible 100 times out of 100 times. Great is his faithfulness.

What would you add or subtract from the list? Which one of the six keys do you need to work on the most?
How has being faithful blessed you in your marriage, family, or career?