The faithful man, Part 1

Text: Proverbs 20:6-7; Psalms 12:1

Key Verse: Proverbs 20:6: “Many a man proclaims his own loyalty and goodness, but who can find a faithful and trustworthy man?” (AMP)

The subject of ‘faithfulness’ cannot be overemphasised, especially as the Bible puts it: “A faithful man or woman who can find?” Faithful men and women are in short supply in our time. It is very difficult to talk about the faithful man without talking about “faithfulness.” The faithful man is a product of faithfulness, so, it is very difficult to keep one apart and discuss the other.

Faithfulness is defined as fidelity, the act of being loyal and true; it is steadfastness in affection and allegiance to a person, a cause or a belief. It is unwavering devotion to a friend, a vow or a cause. For a Christian to be faithful means, he/she has the quality of being true to his word or committed towards what he/she has pledged to do and to what he/she has confessed or professed to believe. As a child of God, you have to be faithful even in your Christian faith.

Faithfulness is not one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but a fruit of the Holy Spirit because it has to do with character. It is not one of the power gifts of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22 (NLT) says: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” Faithfulness is among the nine shining fruits of the Holy Spirit and it is a virtue every believer in Christ must seek to possess. Faithfulness is one of the marks of Christlikeness and many of us are tempted to forsake the pursuit of it in search of nobler successes or achievements. And yet, if we lack this fruit of the Spirit, we lose every good thing given to us. The world needs more faithful men.

Faithfulness is a character of God. The Bible testifies in so many places in the Scripture that the God we serve is a faithful God and this is why we put our trust in Him and continue to serve Him.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:9: “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” God is very faithful who keep His covenant with those who love and keep His commandments even to their descendants for a thousand generations (Deuteronomy 7:9). 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Timothy 2:13, Hebrews 10:23 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 are all Scriptures that affirm the fact that faithfulness is a part of God’s character. Even our Lord Jesus Christ is called the faithful witness (Revelation 1:5). Jesus was faithful unto death for the redemption of the church (Revelation 2:8-11). He got committed to redeem the church and was faithful even unto the cross; He died to redeem the church. God expects everyone of us to be very faithful to Him and to be very faithful in every aspect of life.

The Bible says that God called Abraham His friend because Abraham was very faithful to Him (James 2:23; 2 Chronicles 20:7 and Isaiah 41:8).

One day as God was going to Sodom to destroy it, God said how can I hide this from Abraham knowing that Abraham will faithfully pass the knowledge of God to his children even when he had no son (Genesis 18:17). God knew Abraham and knew that he was faithful to do whatever he heard God say and will faithfully pass God’s commandments to his next generation. God is in search of faithful men like Abraham and it is my prayer that you will be one of them.

• Today’s Nugget: Faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Prayer: Lord help me to be faithful. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: amadiu@yahoo.com Rev.Dr. Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria