The Fruit Of The Spirit: Faithfulness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 

Thank you for returning with me to this study on the fruit of the Spirit. I am sorry I had to miss a study last week due to busyness of things in life with my family.

We have already looked at the fruit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness and goodness. Today I want to look at faithfulness and what that looks like in the life of a believer.

Faithfulness is being true to one’s word in both word and action. It is being able to be trusted in every way.

In this fallen world, faithfulness is very difficult to find. People are faithful only as long as it is beneficial to them and they can see the benefits. As soon as the benefits can no longer be seen, people quit and change their mind, words and actions to go against what they were originally saying and doing.

Employers are no longer strongly faithful to their workers. It is only about making the business look good. Workers do not remain faithful to the employer. They only want to make the most money for the least mount of work.

Proverbs 20:6 Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? 

Solomon brings up a very good point. People all over the world claim to have unfailing love, yet, that love often fails. The person is not faithful to their word. If you don’t believe it, look at marriages. How many people claim undying love at the wedding, in and out of the church, only to end in divorce and hate a few years later?

People are quick to change their minds and hearts towards someone or some task. They choose to step away, rather than stick it out and being faithful. Every excuse under the sun is given to be able to cancel former promises and vows. It is difficult to find a person who is truly faithful.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

The beginning example of faithfulness is found in God. From the first day of creation until this day God has proven Himself faithful. God has always done what He said He would do. God promised salvation to Adam when he was kicked out of the garden. Several thousand years later, God fulfilled that promise in Jesus.

Jesus was faithful to God and to His mission of saving people as He walked on this earth. He did not allow Himself to be deterred from the mission to die upon the cross to save all people.

As a believer and follow of Jesus, we are to be just like Him. This means we should be faithful in everything. God and others can trust that what we say we will do, we will do it. We will always act in love and care for others and God.

“Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. Hebrews 3:5

Moses was one who is seen as being faithful to God. Even though he did slip up at times and make bad choices, he, as a whole, remained faithful to God. He led and taught the Israelites as God wanted them to be led.

Our lives should have the same epithet that Moses had–that we are faithful to God. This means we are being His true witness of who Jesus is and what He has done and will do for every person. We are to do the work God has called us to do–be His witness.

Being faithful in being His witness means that we will be that witness every time we can in every situation. We will not back down from being His witness because we are faithful.

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2

As soon as you began to believe in and trust in Jesus for your salvation, you were given a trust. It was an investment in you that was to be built up and increased. You have a work to do.

It is easy to just hold on to salvation and not do anything with it, just as it can be easy to hoard money in order to count it as wealth. However, salvation is given to be also passed on.

Being faithful is not an option. We do not get to choose whether we are faithful or not, we must be faithful just as Jesus was faithful.

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:23

Jesus gave a parable about faithfulness. Those who are faithful with what God has given them will be rewarded. Those who are not faithful with what God has given them will lose everything.

We have been given salvation and the gospel message. We have been given the duty to be His witness to everyone. Being faithful means that we will pass that message on to others and we will live as though we are saved.

You can ask yourself if God would be able to say that you are a good a faithful servant. Being filled with His Holy Spirit, you will be able to answer yes to that question.

In our own strength, we will fail in being faithful. It is easy to be led astray and change who or what we are following or doing. The world is following their own desires at the moment, changing all the time, unfaithful to anything.

As a believer, you are to be faithful. Jesus has given you His Holy Spirit to give you what you need. As you walk by His Holy Spirit, being led by Him, you will be faithful to God and to others. You will always think, say and do the right thing. God and others will be able to trust that you will always do the right thing every time because you are faithful.

Going back to Galatians you can see how the fruit of the Spirit works in your life. It begins with love that brings about joy, leading to peace, leading to forbearance, which then causes you to be kind and full of goodness. With all of these things you will then be faithful to keep doing them and walking in those fruits of the Spirit.

Again thank you for continuing with me on this little look at the fruit of the Spirit. Next week I plan to look at the next fruit: gentleness. I hope to see you then.