Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Faithfulness is believing that God is who He says He is and that He is completely trustworthy despite the trials we face in life. Faithfulness means that we trust what God says in the Bible, we trust He work out everything for good, and we trust that our situation on earth is nothing compared to the hope we have when everything is made new. This type of faithfulness is made possible in us by Holy Spirit. The Spirit makes us faithful and all of this is possible because God is faithful.
God is Faithful
We can see God’s faithfulness in the order and constancy of nature. There is a design to things.
Psalm 119:138 (NIV)
138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.
We can see His faithfulness in the way He keeps His Word and His promises.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)
3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
How is faithfulness expressed?
It is first expressed in our faithfulness to Him. He has done so much for us, He has been so faithful to us, our response should be to be faithful to Him.
Being faithful to Him means that we must follow Him daily.
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
We need to be spending time in the Word and in prayer being open to the leading of Holy Spirit.
Our faithfulness is also expressed in how we act towards others.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Ultimately, faithfulness gets us back to loving God and loving others, which Jesus has told us is what really matters.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
