Faithfulness- DO you have these fruits

 

Hi! 

Welcome back to our series on the Fruits of the Spirit!

Today we're talking about Faithfulness. 

Now, when we hear about faithfulness it's often referring to either God's commitment to us or someone's commitment to another. 

And, in a way, we are correct about this assumption of this meaning. 

When translated into its Greek form it is Pistis.

It means truth or a conviction of truth. 

Fidelity in Christ. 

A reliable character

The Google definition of Faithfulness describes it as the quality of being faithful, fidelity.

Learning the definition of this word opened the fact that to be faithful may be definitely challenging for us. 

It is the very opposite of our nature.

As humans, we are very much finicky. 

It's a reason that God's spirit doesn't thrive with man at all times. (Genesis 6:3)

This fruit is definitely one of the hardest ones to bear at times.

Even in physical relationships with our spouses or families, humans tend to struggle with faithfulness. 

We become bored. We find it difficult. Our interest changes. We have differences. 

There are so many reasons that we can blame it on, yet that would not give it an excuse.

Yes, in relationships with other humans, we can expect the flicker of changes to occur throughout life. For us or them to change their heart or mind. We understand what is now might not be again, but with God this is different.

His faithfulness is continuous.

It is unchanging and it doesn't hold conditions. It is the same every single time. 

And this is why I say Faithfulness is harsh fruit because when God is capable of holding His end of the deal, we are often short in this matter.

We're the ones susceptible to change, backing out, quitting, giving up, and being unfaithful. 

This is why it may seem impossible to bear this fruit. 

Because human relationships don't last as long or ever as in-depth as the one we have with God. 

When men can only see what we decide to show them, God sees everything.

Our filth and our good. He sees us in every season and every instance. 

So, how can we be faithful to the one who is the most faithful being in the entire world? 

How can we match His faithfulness? 

For one, we can not. 

We can't match His faithfulness and I think recognizing this is important.

But, I have learned something during my lifetime that God says is faithfulness. 

I didn't really think about it until now, but He said 'Every time I carried you through something and your eyes remained on Me, that was faithfulness. Every time you went through something and you continue to put your trust in Me, that was faithfulness. Whenever you chose to stand on My Word, that was faithfulness" 

Matthew 25:21

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

So, what I gather is that faithfulness is the choice to remain loyal to God and His Word in the midst of trials and tribulations. 

Faithfulness is choosing to be loyal to Him in every situation. 

Not because of what we can get from Him but because He's our Father. Our God. 

He's the one we are in a relationship with and we must choose to be faithful to Him every single time infidelity presents itself. 

What is infidelity?

Temptations. 

The desire to give up when trials and hardships present themselves. 

Other gods. 

Sickness. 

Marital problems

Disobedience. 

Sin. 

When these things and any other thing that would try to get you to choose it over God present itself, we must lift up a standard to choose loyalty to Christ. 

Faithfulness to God. 

The more we choose God over our circumstances, regardless of what it may be, the more we begin to produce this fruit. 

The more we become faithful to the point where it wouldn't even feel like there is an option anymore. We must walk in fidelity. 

We must become reliable. 

It must become our quality.

~TheRay