The fruit of the Spirit is found in Galatians 5:22. The Greek word translated “faithfulness” (NASV) is simply the word “faith.” But, there is a difference between “faithfulness” and “faith.”
Faith is “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” We trust, having complete confidence in God, even though we cannot see him. That is faith.
Faithfulness – “the quality of being loyal, constant, and steadfast.” In other words, faithfulness is being dependable, constant.
Some people’s faithfulness, or loyalty, lasts only as long as the blessings flow. A wealthy old man was enthusiastic about marrying his lovely young bride but sometimes wondered if she might marry him just for his money. So, he asked her, “If I lost all my money, would you still love me?”
“Of course I would still love you,” she retorted. “Don’t be silly. But I would miss you.”
THE ORIGIN OF FAITHFULNESS IS THE NATURE OF GOD:
As the Israelites were getting ready to cross into the Promised Land, Moses told them, “Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them” (Deut. 7:9-11).
The Hebrew word translated “faithful” here is actually a verb, a passive verb and the verb is “trust.” So, Moses is saying God is the “being trusted” One. You can trust God. Why? Because He doesn’t change.
To say that God is faithful is to say that God is real. He is firm, stable, reliable, dependable, upright. Can cannot be unfaithful to His own nature. Therefore, He must be consistent.
THE EXAMPLE OF FAITHFULNESS IS JESUS CHRIST:
Jesus Christ is, of course, God in the flesh. In which case, we would expect to see the same unchangeableness, infinite faithfulness in Jesus Christ while He was in the flesh on earth. The Hebrew writer tells us: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).
How do we see Jesus being faithful while He was on earth? First, Jesus was dependable in fulfilling the responsibility that the Father sent Him to fulfill, even though it meant death on the cross (John 17:4).
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Secondly, Jesus was dedicated to that task so that when it arose, Jesus praised those who were otherwise His enemies (Matt. 23:2-3) and He rebuked those who were otherwise His friends (Matt. 16:21-23).
So, Jesus was faithful, dependable while He was on earth. He is our example of faithfulness – being dedicated to the truth of God regardless of whether it supports one person or another. Christianity is not a popularity contest. It is the pursuit of honoring God, and if we do that, we can also be dependable.
YOU AND I CAN BE FAITHFUL:
1. Remember that God has a reward for those who are faithful – 1 Samuel 26:23 – “The Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness.”
2. Fear God; it will stimulate faithfulness – Nehemiah’s brother, Hanani, is said to be a “faithful man and feared God more than many” (Neh. 7:2).
3. Don’t ever lie! “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal faithfully are His delight” (Prov. 12:22).
4. Stay faithful to God’s word – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy” (Prov. 27:6).
5. Remember that greater blessings will come if we stay faithful: “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21).
6. Just stick with it!
Let us be reliable so that God can trust us with the blessings and the Gospel He has given into our hands.
–Paul Holland
