Be faithful to God and to one another is an advice that we hear from our childhood. How do we become faithful? It is through the faith we have in the Lord and with one another that we become faithful persons. We have deep faith in God’s promises and we become more faithful to God in all our activities. In the same way we are faithful to our parents, teachers, mentors and elders because we know that their desire is our well being and we do all our work responsibly. Proverbs 28:20 brings true hope to our life in growing virtue of faithfulness. It says “A faithful man will abound with blessings.” When we are faithful we will be rich and filled with God’s blessings in all the ways.
We are called to be faithful in all our activities. Alex Harris says “Being faithful in the smallest things is the way to gain, maintain, and demonstrate the strength needed to accomplish something great.” When we do our task faithfully we receive great victory than we can imagine. Once a certain king needed a faithful servant and had to choose between two candidates for the office. He took both at fixed wages and told them to fill a basket with water from a nearby well, saying that he would come in the evening to inspect their work. After dumping one or two buckets of water into the basket, one of the men said, “What is the good of doing this useless work? As soon as we pour the water in, it runs out the sides.” The other answered, “But we have our wages, haven’t we? The use is the master’s business, not ours. He is a wise king, and must have his own purpose that we do not understand.” “I am not going to do such fool’s work,” replied the complainer. Throwing down his bucket, he went away. The other man continued until he had drained the well. Looking down into it, he saw something shining at the bottom it was a diamond ring. “Now I see the use of pouring water into the basket!” he exclaimed. “If the bucket had brought up the ring before the well was dry, it would have been filtered out in the basket. The king was looking for his diamond. Our work was not useless.” The king found his most faithful servant!
In our lives there are undesirable events that happened or will happen and only God knows why. Regardless, we just need to do what we need to do and remain faithful. Greek Philosopher Confucius says “Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.” We need to examine ourselves on which principles we build our lives? 1 Cor 4:2 says “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” This verse makes us clear that faithfulness will determine the reward we receive. In Lk 16:10 Jesus says “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.” Whatever gifts, talents, and possessions we have if we use it for the growth of others then God sees our faithfulness and he rewards us richly like the man in the above story who was faithful in his given work.
In the first book of Samuel we read about the king David who had the opportunity to kill Saul. But David says “May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam 26:23). Are we faithful to God like David? He had faith in God that God will repay and his work is to do good to others. In the moments of enmity what is our response? If we are faithful we can be assured that God will reward our faithfulness. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to him.” God looks our heart whether our hearts are loyal and faithful to him. If our hearts and minds are attuned to the worldly values then we need to take U turn in our lives. Perhaps we become godlier in our thinking and in our doing.
During our trials and difficulties if we perceive we can hope for the great victory. We see around the world the persecution against Christians. But our faithful Christians remain faithful to God and become martyrs. Revelations 2:10 says “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Jesus gives us a similar promise, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). God is faithful in his promises. So we need not be afraid of any persecution. God takes control of our life. He is the life giver and he gives the victory if we are in the Lord’s army and God’s promise will be ours as he has said in Matthew 25:21. “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.”
Dear Jesus, you lived on this earth by being faithful to your Heavenly Father. Your every word and deed reflected the will of your Father. Help us to be faithful to you in all our activities. May the Spirit of God direct our every thought word and deed to be faithful servant of your in every moment of our life.
Sr. Dr. Soly Kunnel SAB