‘FAITHFULNESS’ – a ‘KEY’ COMPONENT to inherit God’s BLESSINGS!
April 24
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles Chapters 7-9
‘FAITHFULNESS’ – a ‘KEY’ COMPONENT to inherit God’s BLESSINGS!
"So all Israel was recorded
by genealogies, and indeed, they were inscribed in the book of the kings of
Israel. But Judah was carried away
captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness" (1 Chronicles
9:1-2).
These above verses
are the climax to the genealogies, outlining the descendants of those who
returned to Judah from the Exile. As the writer closes with the genealogies,
there is a very important observation
made about the people of Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon
because of their unfaithfulness.
God is always looking for faithful
people, and there is
a huge scarcity of people who are faithful to God, their family, their
commitments, their work, their relationships and in all other spheres of their
lives. Maybe this is the reason for the Psalmist to write the following: "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases!
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men." (Psalms 12:1).
Even the writer of Proverbs has made the following statement: "Most men will proclaim each his own
goodness, but who can find a faithful man?" (Prov. 20:6)
The Bible
describes many blessings for people
who are faithful:
- Overflow: "A
faithful man will abound with blessings" (Prov. 28:20)
- Preservation: "For
the Lord preserves the faithful" (Psalms 31:23)
- Salvation: "And
you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will
be saved." (Matt. 10:22)
- Exaltation: "Who
then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his
household, to give them food in due season?" (Matt. 24:45)
Many great servants of God found in the pages
of the Bible were categorized as faithful,
like Abraham (Gal. 3:9), Joseph (Gen. 39:22-23), Moses (Heb. 3:5), David (2 Sam.
22:22-25), Elijah (1 Kings 19:10, 14), Job (1:21, 22; 2:9, 10), Daniel (Dan.
6:4), Paul (Acts 20:20, 27) and Timothy (1 Cor. 4:17).
Faithfulness
is a characteristic of saints (Eph.
1:1, Col. 1:2, 1 Tim. 6:2, Rev. 17:14) and should
be exhibited in the service of God (Matt. 24:45) through declaring the Word of God (Jer. 23:28; 2
Cor 2:17, 4:2), by helping the brethren
(3 John 1:5), in bearing witness
(Prov. 14:5), in doing work (2 Chron.
34:12), in keeping secrets (Prov.
11:13) and ultimately in all
things (1 Tim. 3:11) - even in the
smallest matters (Luke 16:10-12). Faithfulness is especially required in Ministers
(1 Cor. 4:2; 2 Tim 2:2), their wives
(1 Tim. 3:11) and their children
(Titus 1:6).
God expects us to be faithful with whatever resources that He has endowed us, whether it is our time, our talents or our treasures. "Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2). Finally, let us never forget that there are future rewards awaiting us if we are faithful until our last dying breath, as this is the promise of God: "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).
