Faithfulness

Articles

Derek Long
12/30/18 - The Fruits of the Spirit

December 30, 2018
The Fruit of the Spirit - Faithfulness
By Derek Long
Faithfulness is mentioned as a part of the fruit of the
Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” A person whose life is being directed by the instruction given by the Spirit will be a life characterized by faithfulness.
Faithfulness refers to reliability, dependability, and makes one a person who can be trusted. In thinking about faithfulness, it becomes apparent faithfulness is a quality needed in many areas of our life. Are we a faithful and reliable individual? Scripture reminds us finding a faithful man is something hard to do. Proverbs 20:6 says, “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?”
God and Jesus are characterized by faithfulness. Therefore, as we seek to imitate God and Jesus in our lives we must develop the quality of faithfulness (Ephesians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 11:1). God has been consistently spoken of as faithful throughout Scripture. Deuteronomy 7:9 reminds us of the character of God being, “the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” The New Testament equally contains affirmations of God’s faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus is also faithful. While upon the earth, Jesus faithfully carried out the will of the Father (John 8:29). He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father’s will (Hebrews 5:7-8; Philippians 2:8). Hebrews 3:2 speaks of Jesus “who was faithful to Him who appointed Him.” He presently serves as a faithful and merciful high priest on our behalf (Hebrews 2:17-18). Faithfulness is not something God requires of us but which He does not possess. Faithfulness is also not something God requires of us without showing us how it is to be demonstrated in our lives as Christians.
Faithfulness is necessary if we are going to receive the crown of life. Jesus says, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Faithfulness is the basis on which one is considered just in God’s sight (Romans 1:16-17). Faithfulness is not something we do one time but something which must be demonstrated throughout our lives as Abraham throughout his life demonstrated his faithfulness to God.
Faithfulness is necessary in our relationship with God. God will only reward those who faithfully and diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Many fail to endure and remain faithful and thus fall from grace and end up in a worse condition than before (2 Peter 2:20-22). God needs to be able to depend on us. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Faithfulness is necessary in our relationship with other Christians. Can other Christians rely on us to be the type of brother or sister in Christ we should be? Are we faithful when
it comes to assembling with the saints (Hebrews 10:24-25)? Can other brethren rely on us to be present when the saints have decided to assemble for the purpose of exhorting one another? Are we faithful when it comes to restoring the erring (Galatians 6:1)? Can a brother or sister in Christ trust us to correct them if we see them in sin? Are we looking out for each others spiritual and physical well-being?
Faithfulness is necessary in our family relationships. Husbands and wives need to be faithful to each other. Failure to be faithful to our spouse is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Husbands need to be the type of husbands God wants them to be. Wives need to be the type of wives God wants them to be. Children and parents need to be faithful in being the type of people God expects them to be.
Are you the faithful individual God calls upon you to be? If you are not faithful, why not change and begin having a life filled with the fruit of the Spirit?