THE BIBLE AND FAITHFULNESS

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

THE BIBLE AND FAITHFULNESS
Presented by Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Devotional Text: MATT. 25:14-39

Introduction:

Faithfulness is a God-man responsibility. As one expects God to faithfully perform His promises to one, so He expects one to faithfully keep the terms of His covenant with one. Unfortunately, man has not always been faithful in keeping with divine covenant. However, the records of the rewards to a few faithful persons in the Bible speak volumes of the fact that God will always bless the faithful ones.

GENERAL REMARKS

(1)     A faithful man will be richly blessed, (Prov. 28:20)

(2)     The Lord preserves the faithful, (Psalm 31:23).

(3)     The Lord will not forsake His faithful ones, (Psalm, 37:28).

(1)    Faithfulness brings rewards, (Matt. 25:21).

GOD IS LOOKING FOR FAITHFUL ONES, (PROVERB 20:6; PSALM 12:1)

Human beings are self-projecting, self-acclaiming and self-imposing. These are some of the manipulative skills that people use in making others believe that they are something special. These human antics have induced many into choosing the wrong people into positions of thrust.

                        Be it as it may, the truth remains that God cannot be deceived. It is on the account of the foregoing that God’s word declares that, “many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful men who can find?”. Therefore, based on this biblical fact, it becomes evident that God is still looking for those who would faithfully serve Him like: 

(i)                   Epahras, (Col. 1:7)

(ii)                 Onesimus, (Col. 4:9)

(iii)                Tychicus, (Eph. 6:21)

Let it be stressed here that to be faithful is to be loyal, dependable, trustworthy and truthful to a given course or system. God expects us to be exemplary.

GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES, (PSALM 145:13)

God is not only faithful in all His promises, but faithful in all that He does, (Psalm 33:4). This emphasizes the fact of His reliability, trustworthiness and unfailing love. The Bible tells us that God in His faithfulness:

(i)             does no wrong, (Gen. 31:4)

(ii)           performs all His promises, (Psalm 145:13)

(iii)          does not allow one to be tempted above one’s capacity, (1Cor. 10:13).

If we serve a God who does no wrong, who performs all His promises, who does not allow us to be tempted above our capacities, we should therefore serve Him faithfully, knowing full well that He will not fail us. His faithfulness endures forever, (Psalm 117:2).

THE REWARD OF FAITHFULNESS (MATT. 25:21)

The parable of “The Talents” as narrated by Jesus best demonstrates the fact of the reward of faithfulness. This parable is an indication of the fact that every child or servant of God possesses at least a gift or talent. The parable also indicates that a faithful use of one’s talent(s) would attract the;

(i)                   reward of increase, (matt. 25:21;28)

(ii)                 reward of entering into the bliss of the master, (Matt, 25:21)

(iii)                reward of divine protection (Pro. 2:8).

Dearly beloved, if God’s word is indicative of the fact that God rewards faithfulness, what manner of person are you in serving Him? Those who refuse to serve Him faithfully have “gnashing teeth” as their reward, (Matt. 25:28-30).