FAITHFUL
By Tara Wentworth
Psalm 12:1 states “Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the son’s of men.” Although that was written over 3000 years ago, it is just as true today. Faithfulness is a quality we desire to see in marriage, business, our government and our relationships with others on every level.
To be faithful means to be trustworthy or believable, to be counted on or dependable. Faith means to believe and a person who is faithful is one who can be relied upon or believed, one in whom others can place their trust. It is a quality that is developed over time.
So, how do we cultivate faithfulness in our lives? We must first recognize that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), because He is the one who places faith in us and is Himself Faithful. One of the manifestations of the fruit of the Holy Spirit who lives within every believer is faithfulness. We must abide in Him in order that His faithfulness will work itself out in our everyday lives.
Another practical way to cultivate faithfulness is to begin with the little things. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) brings out this principle. “Well done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.” Why do certain people start at the bottom and before you know it, they are in a position of leadership? Someone I know very well started years ago with a company in the lowest position, making minimum wages. As time went on, the company grew and he continued to be promoted, because he was a faithful employee. Today, he is not only the vice president of that company, but actually owns his own company with several other partners. He is a faithful man, not only at work but also at home. His family is very important to him and their lives center around the success of each member. The children have a good example in both mother and father, of faithfulness – to one another and to a good work ethic. These children will all contribute in a positive way to our society. They have benefited from their parents faithfulness and will themselves be ones in whom others can place their trust.
I have seen others with talent and potential, but who never really succeed in life because they have never cultivated faithfulness. When a father or mother is not faithful in keeping their marriage vows, why should they expect their children to live any differently? They have not demonstrated faithfulness in front of their children and many times wonder why their children are promiscuous and have no real values on which to stand. Fidelity has become “old fashioned “ because our children do not see devotion, loyalty, allegiance to one’s vows that were made at the marriage altar.
God is looking for faithfulness today. As pressures increase in every area of our lives, will we be amongst the company of those He can call “Faithful”? Because we know that God, Himself, is Faithful and trustworthy, we not only have His example to follow, but His grace (empowerment) to be a faithful person ourselves.
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| TFAM article - Having an Intentional Marriage | 35.6 KB | File | 3/12/2009 12:57:34 PM |
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