Text:Revelation 2:10: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Faithfulness is one of the most precious virtues in the Christian life. It is the mark of those who truly love God and serve Him wholeheartedly. In every generation, God has sought men and women who will stand faithful to Him in all circumstances whether in joy and in sorrow, in comfort and in persecution, in plenty and in lack.
In these last days when compromise and inconsistency are common, God is still looking for faithful servants. The world may measure success by achievement, fame or wealth, but in the eyes of heaven, true success is faithfulness.
The Lord said to the church in Smyrna:“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”This means that faithfulness is not just for a season, but a lifelong commitment. God calls us to remain faithful till the end, regardless of trials, temptations or oppositions.
And the good news is this: faithfulness is not forgottenbecause God is therewarder of those who diligently serve Him. There is a glorious reward for every faithful believer who endures to the end.
The Meaning Of Faithfulness
FAITHFULNESS simply means steadfast loyalty, reliability and unwavering commitment.To be faithful is to be consistent, dependable and trustworthy.
In spiritual terms, faithfulness means remaining true to God, His Word, and your calling, no matter the cost. It means obeying Him even when no one is watching and serving Him even when it is not convenient.
Faithfulness is not measured by what you do once in a while, but by what you do consistently. It is not about how you start, but how you finish.
The Scripture says in 1Corinthians 4:2: “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”God does not first ask if you are gifted, talented or popular,but after our faithfulness. This is because faithfulness is the foundation of divine approval.
The Faithfulness Of God
BEFORE we talk about our faithfulness to God, we must remember that God Himself is faithful. Deuteronomy 7:9 says:“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments.”
God’s faithfulness is unchanging because He never fails, never forgets and never breaks His promises. Even when we are unfaithful, He remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).His faithfulness is the reason we can trust Him completely because He keeps His Word and sustains His people. God forgives when we repent and rewards those who endure in faith.When we walk in faithfulness, we reflect the very character of our Heavenly Father.
Examples Of Faithful Servants In The Bible
THE Bible gives us shining examples of men and women who remained faithful to God despite trials:
(a) Abraham: He obeyed God even when he did not understand where he was going (Genesis 12:1–4). His faithfulness was rewarded with a covenant that blessed all nations.
(b) Joseph: Though betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery and wrongly imprisoned, Joseph remained faithful to God. In due time, God elevated him from the prison to the palace (Genesis 41:41–43).
(c) Daniel: He stood firm in prayer even when threatened with the lion’s den. His faithfulness brought him honour before kings and favour before God.
(d) Ruth: She remained loyal to Naomi and to the God of Israel. Her faithfulness was rewarded, as she became the great-grandmother of King David and part of the lineage of Jesus Christ.
(e) Paul, The Apostle: Despite persecution, beatings and imprisonment, Paul remained faithful to the gospel. At the end of his life, he said in 2 Timothy 4:7–8: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.”
These examples remind us that faithfulness always leads to divine reward.
Areas Where God Demands Faithfulness
(A) FAITHFULNESS In Our Relationship With God
God desires that we remain faithful in our walk with Him. This means daily communion through prayer, Bible study and obedience to His word. We must not allow sin, pleasure or worldly distractions to separate us from His presence.
Matthew 22:37says: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” That is the essence of faithful devotion.
(b) Faithfulness In Service
Whatever ministry or assignment God has given you to do no matter how great or small it may be, He expects faithfulness. Colossians 3:23says: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”
Your reward does not depend on how visible your service is, but on how faithful you are in it. Many people seek recognition, but God is looking for consistency.
(c) Faithfulness In Stewardship
Every believer is a steward of time, talent, and treasure. God expects us to use what He has given us for His glory. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 teaches that the faithful servant is the one who invests what he has been given. The unfaithful one hides it and is condemned.
(d) Faithfulness In Trials
True faithfulness is proven in adversity. It is easy to serve God when everything is fine, but real faithfulness is revealed when you stand firm in hardship. Job said:“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him,” (Job 13:15).When you remain faithful in pain, you show that your love for God is genuine.
(e) Faithfulness In Witnessing And Holiness
As believers, we are called to represent Christ to the world through holy living and faithful testimony. In a corrupt generation, we must shine as lights.Philippians 2:15 says: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”
The Cost Of Faithfulness
FAITHFULNESS often comes with a price. It may cost you friends, comfort, popularity or even your life. Jesus never promised that it would be easy, but He promised that it would be worth it.The faithful may be misunderstood, mocked or persecuted, but heaven records every act of obedience. Jesus said in Matthew 5:11–12, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you … for great is your reward in heaven.”
Faithfulness may not always bring earthly applause, but it guarantees eternal recognition.
Reward For The Faithful
Now let us consider the glorious rewards that await those who remain steadfast.
(a) The Crown of Life
Revelation 2:10 declares: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” This crown is reserved for those who endure trials without denying their faith. It represents eternal victory and everlasting joy in the presence of God.
(b) The Crown Of Righteousness
Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:8: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.”
This crown is for those who live righteously and long for the appearing of Christ.
(c) Divine Commendation
In Matthew 25:21, the faithful servant was commended: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Can there be any greater reward than hearing these words from the mouth of our Saviour? The applause of men fades, but the approval of Christ is eternal.
(d) Eternal Glory And Reign With Christ
2 Timothy 2:12 says: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” The faithful will not only enter heaven, but will also reign with Christ in glory. What an honourthat await those who endure to the end!
Encouragement To Remain Faithful
DEARLY beloved, you may be weary, unnoticed or even discouraged in your service for God, but don’t give up. Heaven is watching. God is taking record.
Hebrews 6:10 assures us: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name.”
Stay faithful even when it seems no one sees you. Stay faithful when your reward seems delayed. God’s timing is perfect and His reward is sure.
Let your heart echo the words of Apostle Paul:“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord,” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Faithfulness may not make you famous, but it will make you fruitful. It may not bring earthly riches, but it will bring eternal reward.
The world is unstable, but God’s standard never changes — He still says:“Be thou faithful unto death.”
One day, the faithful will stand before the throne of God, clothed in white, crowned with glory, and hear the words that will echo through eternity:“Well done, good and faithful servant … enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
May we all be found faithful when our Lord returns, Amen!
Testimony Of The Lord’s Doing
‘My Family And I Were Saved From Indiscriminate Gunshots’
MY name is Sister VeraIjeoma; we reside in Houston, Texas. My testimony is about what happened to us in 2018 and how God of Chosen saved us.The very day this indiscriminate gunshotshappened, l called my children and told them thatat 10.00 p.m., they should pray and go to bed, that l would not be joining them because l would come back late. Eventually, l got home around 2.00 a.m, and about that time, I began to hear gunshots, where we live. We did not know that some neighbours were into drugs.
The gunshots woke me; quickly, l crawled to my children’s room and saw two of them, while the third one was downstairs watching television. Not quite long, police came knocking at the door.Initially, we were afraid to open the door, butwe summoned courage and openedthe door and seven policemen came in.They made some enquiries and then went to our neighbour’s apartment.
The testimony here, is that, the bullets entered our apartment through the window where my husband was and passed above my husband’s head, and the apron, entitled “…And The Enemies Submitted”that hung on the window.
Also, the bullets went to where my last son was, shattered the window and went above his head too. But the bullets went to our neighbour’s apartment and injured some of them. Because we are Chosen, we did not sustain a scratch. Before this incident, there was a crusade held in Nigeria where our General Overseer called for pledge. I pledged some amount on that Sunday and on Monday, as I was going to work, I redeemed the pledge and on Tuesday, this incident happened.
I thank God immensely because it might be through that pledge that God used to save my family and I. Praise the Lord! I pray for our General Overseer and all members of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival MinistriesWorldwide, heaven at last in Jesus’ name… Amen!
