What Does It Mean To Be Faithful?

"Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Matthew 25:21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

The Bible is full of accounts of God’s faithfulness to His people.

He saved the Israelites from the Egyptians.
He opened Sarah’s womb in her old age.
He delivered David in battle.

God’s faithfulness was never more astounding than when He delivered us from the very grips of sin and gave us a way to join Him in Heaven.

But the Bible also says that we’re also supposed to be faithful to God. In the parable of the talents, the master tells the servants who were faithful that they will be given even more than what they started with. Most importantly, they’re permitted to enter into their master’s joy.

So what does it mean to be faithful to God, and how can we be faithful to others?

What Does it Mean to Be Faithful to God?

God’s faithfulness to His people is not the same as our faithfulness to God.

When God is faithful to us, He cares for us, He leads us, and He loves us.

When we’re faithful to God it means that we trust that He will care for us, we follow where He leads, and we love Him in return.

Being faithful also means that there will be some evidence of our faith in God. A faithful Christian will often produce fruit.

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

Faithfulness does not mean that we will be perfect. It does not mean that we won’t struggle or that we won’t make poor decisions. It does mean that we will continue to trust in God and try to follow His commandments even when life is difficult.

In the parable of the talents in Luke 16:10, Jesus says: 

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”

God knows our capabilities. He knows that we’re not all given the same talents and opportunities. He doesn’t expect the same results from all of us.

He does want us to do something good with the talents and resources that we are given. He also wants us to do more than bury our talents in the ground.

How Can We Be Faithful to Others?

Being faithful is not only limited to our relationship with God. We can also be faithful in our relationships with other people.

Faithfulness in Marriage

Probably the most common form of faithfulness that comes to mind is in our marriage relationships.

The Bible tells us that spouses should be faithful to one another. Part of faithfulness is avoiding adultery, but it’s more than that. Husbands and wives are meant to serve each other and love one another.

Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”

Spouses show their faithfulness to each other by encouraging one another in God, actively loving each other, and patiently caring for each other’s needs.

Faithfulness in Friendship

Another way we can show faithfulness is in our friendships. The Bible deeply values friendships and there are many instances of loyalty between friends.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.“

Proverbs 27:9-10 tells us not to forsake our friends and that there is sweetness in a friend’s earnest counsel.

Being faithful in friendship means offering Godly counsel, carrying each other’s burdens, and remaining loyal through hardships.

Being a Faithful Person of God

Faithfulness means steadfast loyalty that isn’t easily swayed.

Our faithfulness to God means trusting in Him and loving Him through all circumstances. It means following His commandments even when we’d rather choose a different path.

Our faithfulness to our loved ones means loving them even when it’s difficult. Caring for them even when they’re ungracious or unkind. It means thinking well of them, instead of assuming the worst of their intentions. It means offering Godly counsel, and building them up when they feel weak.

The good news is we don’t have to produce this faithfulness alone! God promises to give us strength when we need it! (Isaiah 40:29-31)

If you’re feeling faint, if you’re feeling tired, if you’re feeling weary, know that God is there to help.

God’s faithfulness to us gives us the strength to be faithful people.