What About Faithfulness?
by Olga Hermans
Somebody said: “Being faithful in the smallest things is the way to gain, maintain, and demonstrate the strength needed to accomplish something great.” Joyce Meyer said it this way: “Faithfulness is not doing something right once but doing something right over and over and over and over.” And Mother Teresa said: “I am not called to be successful; I am called to be faithful”.
What do you say? Webster defines faithful as maintaining an allegiance to someone or something; to be constant; loyal; having or showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility; conscientious. Being faithful is a good thing; it implies having an undeviating allegiance to a person, cause or institution.
What do you think the opposite of faithfulness is? It would imply failure in devotion to someone or something, being dishonest, disloyal; unreliable and undependable. God is faithful and He keeps His Word. He is constant and unchanging.
God is always faithful to keep His covenant with us, even when we are not faithful; God remains faithful to His Word. Numb.23:19.
It is so sad that in our society many people lack faithfulness and integrity and do not keep their word. This creates distrust, disappointment and hurt in others. It also causes others not to believe in them or become involved with them on many levels because they don’t want to experience pain and hurt again.
Have you ever heard the saying? Hurting people hurt people. This should motivate us enough to become faithful. How many times, myself included, have we been faithful only when it’s convenient or comfortable and not keeping promises when it is hard and reap a harvest of pain and hurt later on.
There are times when God will prove your faithfulness. He does that by placing you in seemingly unimportant positions, all the while observing your faithfulness in the little things. God will not promote a person who is unfaithful (irresponsible) in the little things. Faithful people feel responsible for the things they do and the people they serve.
They do not quit because they are tired, offended, or because there is inconvenience. They go on to complete the task they’ve been given. People who are undependable or irresponsible will not be given leadership positions. A leader must be responsible and faithful. Proverbs 25:19. People who are not dependable or faithful can be a pain to those who work or live with them.
You know Daniel in the Bible right? He was promoted to the level of being a first prime minister under King Darius. Dan.6:1-4. He had already proven faithful through the reign of two previous kings. Darius, however, had promoted him because he valued Daniel’s wisdom and character above all the other men around him.
This caused jealousy in others who wanted his position. They began to look for ways to trap him but could not find any character flaws. Daniel 6:4. Daniel was faithful to God and to his king. I truly believe that when you are faithful to God, you will be faithful to those who are in authority over you.
You know what happened to Daniel; his enemies had to find something to betray him and although Daniel ended up in the lions’ den because of doing what was right, God protected him by shutting the lion’s mouths.
Faithfulness does not always mean circumstances will be favorable, but as you are willing to walk out your commitment to God and your assignment, God will deliver you and promote you. We must learn how to stand steadfast and immovable in what we know is the right thing to do.
Here are some helpful hints for being faithful:
1. Keep your word.
2. Do all you can do to the best of your ability in the assignment you are in.
3. Do what you are assigned to do, whether others see you or not. God sees you.
4. Go the extra mile if it is necessary in order to complete an assigned task.
5. Maintain a sense of responsibility, realizing that others may be dependent on the part you do. Remove the attitude that someone else will do it from your thinking.
6. Stay put when others jump out at the first difficulty. Learn to stay until you’ve spent time and heard direction from God before considering a move.
7. Keep a good attitude and avoid listening to negative people.
8. Submit to authority and learn to follow. Then God can promote you more quickly to a leadership position.
9. Don’t look for changes to always happen in others around you. Instead, learn to look inside yourself and allow God to change you even more into His character.
There are also rewards for faithful people and they are good!!
1. “A faithful man shall abound with blessings….” Pro 28:20
2. “….The Lord preserves the faithful….” Psa 31:23
3. “… You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much….” Mat 25:21
4. “… He counted me faithful and trustworthy, appointing me to [this stewardship of] the ministry. 1Tim. 1:12
5. “… Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life”. Rev 2:10
You can subscribe to The Daily Choice which is a SPIRITUAL Devotion that helps you to make the right choices in your life!
Thanks for sharing this. I think it is so important to keep our integrity in all we do.
Bright Blessings
MarVeena
Great post – not only about why faithfulness is important, but also real steps you can take to be faithful.
Yep, steps are important isn’t it Nisha.
Wonderful post, Olga. I loved the Mother Theresa quote. It shows the true meaning of faithfulness. I love the steps you posted as well. Thanks!
Thanks Lisa!!
I have found in life that I am a pretty faithful person. Good article.
Good to hear that you are a faithful person Jamie!
Great points. Faithfulness is an important component of living with integrity. And I think perhaps #9 might be most important. Don’t expect others to change–most often, you are the one who needs the changing.
#9 is definitely a great key to our own character Marie!!
Hi Olga…thank you for the excellent hints on living a faithful life and the great rewards for being faithful! …Hughie 🙂
GREAT post on faithfulness – THANK YOU Olga!
Thank you so much for the reminder! It seems that unfaithfulness and lack of integrity are rampant these days.
Such a wonderful post, Olga. Thanks for sharing why faithfulness is so important and the steps one can take to be faithful!
Thanks Alexandra!!
Great tips! Number one and seven are my favorites for sure 🙂
We all have our favourites; so funny isn’t it??
Olga, always love your articles! They are uplifting and full of God’s hopes and promises. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Kim, that means a lot to me coming from you!!
Olga, I think it is so important to keep our integrity in all we do too. Thanks for sharing.
Yes Anastasiya, for pointing out how important integrity is, because that is what it is!!
This is a great post about faithfulness, Olga. Thank you for sharing these hints.
Thanks Lorii, I am glad you liked it!
What a great teaching!
Faithfulness can be a teaching to many; you’re right Sharon!
What a beautiful post about faithfulness….absolutely spot on hints, too! I appreciate how you point out what faithfulness is and what it isn’t…such clarity! Great post, thank you!!
Thanks Sherie for your enthusiasm!!
Great post Olga! My favorite is keeping a good attitude and not listen to negative people. It can really bring you down!
Yes, negative people can bring us down in no time. Thanks Lori!!
To be honest, when I saw the title “Great is Thy Faithfulness” started playing in my head! To me, being faithful is keeping your word (like you mention) and being true and loyal. I loved that you mentioned Daniel. That is one of my 2 favorite books and I did the Beth Moore “Daniel” story and WOW! Talk about a faithful man!
Thanks Mandy! I also love the book of Daniel and yes, faithfulness was definitely one if his great strengths.
When you live your life according to Bible principles it will show in your business life, too. You can never go wrong doing what is right, ever!
Great article Olga. I consider myself very faithful and my word is like carrying money to the bank. You can count on me if I say I will, then I will. If things change I am fast to let the person know the truth. HE is so faithful in HIS word too.
Amazing article Olga…as always! I love your point that being faithful doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing…it is during the bumpy times that our faith is the most valuable!
Great definitions of faithfulness from Mother Theresa and Joyce Meyer. I also like your tips for being faithful. Always keeping your word is such a great start. Thanks for another thoughtful post Olga.
Wonderful post here! My favorite line: “Faithfulness is not doing something right once but doing something right over and over and over and over.” Very closely linked to integrity. Thanks for sharing! x0x