Be Faithful

Revelation 2:10

Are you faithful? Do you know what is required to be faithful? It is God’s desire that we are full of faith (Heb. 11:6).

Being faithful means that we must LABOR for the Lord. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (Matt. 24:45). We are all answerable to God. He has given to each of us responsibilities and roles. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). This verse makes it clear that God wants us to be faithful in our labor.

Faithfulness demands that we are concerned with small things. “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10). The author was wrong when he entitled his book “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.” God’s word tells us to be faithful in the little things. Isn’t that what life is made of? Yes, we have some big moments that stand out and people will remember. But life is made up of little moments. How we use the little things will tell how we handle the big things. Jesus said if we are faithful with the little then we will be given more responsibility (Matt. 25:21).

We are to be faithful in what has been LOANED to us. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). A steward is one who has been entrusted with the goods of another. Everything belongs to God. He created all things through Jesus (John 1:1-3). We are just blessed to be able to use them for a while. Paul wrote to the Romans that “every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). When the Lord returns He will want to know if we have been faithfully using what is His (Matt. 25:19). What are we doing with our homes, cars, jobs, etc. that God has blessed us with? Faithfulness is more than attending all the services of the church. Faithfulness means that we are good stewards of God’s manifold blessings.

Faithfulness demands that we be in the LORD. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:2). One cannot be full of faith if one is not in Jesus. Being in Christ means that one is saved (2 Tim. 2:10), There is only one way to be saved. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). If one cannot be faithful until he is in Christ, how does he get into Christ? First, one must believe in Jesus (Mark 16:16). Second, there must be repentance of past sins (Acts 2:38). Third, one must confess Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 8:37). What act is mentioned with faith, repentance and confession? Baptism, an immersion in water, is the additional command. Paul says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). When one is baptized it is to be “translated” (Col. 1:13) from sin to salvation (Col. 2:12). Are you in Christ? Would you like to be? Without being in Christ you cannot be faithful.

Terry Claunch