VATIC Expressions
Truth, Transparency, Transformation
The Fruit of Faithfulness
by Laura Frohmader
In the parable of the talents the master tells his servant, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!” (Matthew 25:21) The master gave 5 talents to one servant, who used the money to earn 5 more. So, also, the servant who was given 2 talents, earned 2 more. But the servant who had received 1 talent hid it away, not wanting the master to gain anything. That servant was reprimanded for being evil. The master said, “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” (Matthew 25:29) I long to hear the words “well done, good and faithful servant” when I go to heaven. God has given us gifts of money, skills, & abilities. We are to use these to His glory! One of the abilities God has given me is writing well. I hope that my articles for Vatic Expressions have been spiritually edifying to you, the readers. I also have musical abilities, yet, several years ago, I played “Jonah” and “sailed for Tarshish” when I felt God calling me to play the organ at church. I knew God was calling me to learn the liturgy and hymns but I ran the other way. About 6 months later, our organist had foot surgery and was unable to play for a while. Then I understood God’s calling, but still I was disobedient. Eventually, I came around and did what God desired. Now I fill in when the regular organist cannot play, even though I only play with one hand. Keyboard is not my instrument; percussion is what I play best. God gifted me with a xylophone that I do play (with both hands) during the offering each Sunday. God uses cracked pots. I seem to be more cracked than others at times.
Despite my temptations to run the other way, I hope I have been faithful with the gifts God has given me. He gave me these gifts to bring others to know Him and glorify Him! This, to me, is what is meant by the fruit of the Spirit called “faithfulness.”
What Biblical characters do you think of when you hear the word “faithfulness?” Look at Genesis chapters 39 and 41. Here we read about Joseph’s faithfulness which led Potiphar to put him in charge of his household. Then, while he was a prisoner, the guard put him in charge of the other prisoners. Later, Pharaoh put him in charge of the store houses and all of Egypt.
Daniel 6:4 tells us, “The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.” God blessed Daniel’s faithfulness and protected him from hungry lions. May we all be so bold as to put God first, even in the face of death just as Daniel did, and as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. The 3 dudes who were thrown into the fiery furnace did not even smell of smoke or have singed hair. That is truly a miracle of God, to bless their faithfulness and allow them to be a testimony to others.
A few other examples are found in 2 Kings 12:15, “No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay those doing the work, since they worked with integrity,” Nehemiah 13:13, “I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for the distribution to their colleagues,” and 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, “A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God’s mysteries. In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful.” May others view me in this way, also.
The importance of faithfulness can be found in the book of Proverbs. “Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 3:3) “Don’t those who plan evil go astray? But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.” (Proverbs 14:22) “Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:6) “Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne.” (Proverbs 20:28) “To those who send him, a trustworthy messenger is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the life of his masters.” (Proverbs 25:13)
Our best example is God’s faithfulness. Let us sing with Ethan the Ezrahite as we read Psalm 89:1, “I will sing about the Lord’s faithful love forever; I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations with my mouth.” Let us rejoice in this great news: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:22-25)
Why should we be faithful to God? “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) In thankfulness for God’s salvation we can be faithful to our King, looking forward to that crown of life-- a life spent forever in heaven! Nothing else matters, except where we will spend eternity. Everything else in life should be a response to our salvation.
All Bible quotes are from the Holmen Christian Standard Bible unless otherwise noted.
May this article bless you and the Holy Spirit speak to you of His Truth.
© 2017 Laura Frohmader