What does it mean to be faithful?

To be faithful is “to be steadfast in affection and allegiance. It is to be loyal; standing by a principle, value or person regardless of the personal cost.” *

It may be as simple as keeping our word to someone, even if it inconveniences us. It’s about valuing people and relationships before our agendas and sticking with them through thick and thin. In western society, our lives have become more transactional. Whether it’s companies valuing profits above employees or shoppers swayed by the lowest prices, loyalty and faithfulness are up for sale.

Faithfulness costs and loyalty comes at a price. Jesus is my role model when it comes to faithfulness. He is always and ever faithful. His love is limitless. I have turned my back on Him, forgotten Him, and gone my way. Still, like the father of the prodigal son, He runs towards me with arms outstretched. 

2 Timothy 2:13 (NASB)
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 

The fruit of faithfulness is proved when exposed to the test of faithlessness. Jesus was deserted at his hour of greatest need by all of His disciples; those he had counted as his closest friends. 

Matthew 26: 55–56 (NASB) 
At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfil the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled. 

His faithfulness to those who ran away shines brighter than the sun. He didn’t remind them of their faithlessness when He came to them after His resurrection. He kept no record of their wrongs and welcomed them with open arms. 

I want to be like Jesus. His ability to remain faithful when I am faithless inspires me to do the same for others. In a world that is fickle, I believe that how we treat relationships and the faithfulness we display is going to stand out to those around us. 

I have been a business advisor for over fifteen years, and my clients have come to rely on my dedication and faithfulness towards them regardless of circumstance. When I started my business, I had a client who couldn’t afford to pay me, so we organised to have a meal together once a month. Over the course of our regular get-togethers, I helped him reshape and market his business in a different way. We have been through many ups and downs, and there were times when it would have been easy for me to let him go. But I’m happy to say that after fifteen years we are still working together and have remained committed to the relationship built on a foundation of faithfulness and perseverance. 

Relationships are a two-way deal, and it’s not easy to stay faithful when there is a lack of connectedness. Knowing God will never leave me or forsake me helps me to remain faithful and committed to connecting authentically with people in my world. 

The question to ask ourselves is, do we have a personal revelation of God’s faithfulness? Why not take a moment and ask Him to reveal the extent of His faithfulness to you? 

* Faithful. 2017. In Bakers Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Retrieved April 10, 2017, from https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical- dictionary/gentleness.html 

From Andee Sellman’s book “Reflections on the Fruit of the Spirit”. You can purchase any of the titles from the Land of Seven Rivers Foundational Series in either e-book or paperback format by following the link https://www.landofsevenrivers.org/store.html