Whether married, engaged to be married, or simply want to be married, we all look for two things in our mates, faithfulness and trustworthiness. No one wants a cheater that will step out on them and bring mess back into the home. Our relationship to God is compared to a marriage and we can not afford to be unfaithful to Him.
God is faithful and He responds to faithfulness. Faithfulness makes a difference. People that are faithful make things happen in their homes, on their jobs, in their communities, and, yes, in their churches. Even if the people around them do not act right, faithful people
can change the atmosphere.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 states “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” In the Amplified translation, the passage reads “So then, let us [apostles] be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God. Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].
This verse is not just for those with the title of “Minister.” If you have a testimony of what Jesus Christ has done for you, then you are a minister. And as a minister, you are a servant and steward of God.
The three things we need in order to cultivate faithfulness are availability, accountability, and attitude. Availability means being suitable or ready for use or service, qualified and willing to serve or assist, at hand, readily obtainable, having sufficient power, profitable. When you are available to God, you present your body as a living sacrifice. You do not worry about man’s approval or man trying to reward you. It does not matter who is on the program. You are a debtor to the ministry. You realize that is not about you, but it is about God, and if you make yourself available, He can work through you.
Accountability means being subject to your obligations, able to justify something, responsible, answerable. Wouldn’t you call your job if you were going to be late or miss work? You should give your Pastor, choir director, or committee chair the same courtesy. When services are going on in the ministry, you can not afford not to be accountable. You can not afford to serve God on your convenience. Or pick and choose when you are going to show up. It could be that the very time that you decide not to show up, God sends someone for you to minster to. What happens if you are not on your post? What happens if you are no where to be found?
Finally, we need the right attitude. Attitude means manner, disposition, feeling, passion toward someone or something. Our hunger and thirst for God must be greater than anything else. We understand that we must bless the Lord at all times and come before Him with gladness. You can not afford to wear your feelings on your shoulder. You can not come aggravate and agitated and expect a mighty move from God.
While we are cultivating faithfulness, we must remember to grow up and to grow out. You may have grown up in the word, able to quote it from Genesis to Revelations, but you must also grow out of old attitudes, old ways, old habits, even old relationships. (28:30)
Just as there are requirements to being faithful, there are also promises. When you are faithful, you can expect to de promoted in the kingdom of God. Luke 16:10 says “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.” When you are faithful in little, you can be trusted with much. When you are faithful with another man’s, God can give you your own.
When you are faithful, you can expect to experience God’s glory and presence in your life. Ps 101:6 says “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.” In the presence of the Lord is the fullness of joy. You will have strength all the days of your life. You don’t have to worry about a thing. You can relax in Jesus and enjoy the ride.
In Isaiah 38, Hezekiah had fifteen years added to his life because of his faithfulness. He was sick and the prophet Isaiah was sent to tell him to get his affairs in order because he would die. But Hezekiah prayed to God, reminding Him of his faithfulness to do all God had told him. God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and reversed the word from the prophet, adding 15 years to his life.
The greatest benefit to faithfulness is found in Matt 25:23. It reads “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Remember, God responds to Himself. Can He find Himself in you? Can you be counted on above the rest? Can God count on you to show up when nobody else will? Can God trust you to remain faithful?
