The Fruit of Faithfulness

“But the fruit of the Spirit is…faithfulness”—Galatians 5:22

Several years ago, when I was a new pastor, the elders of the church I served decided to have a new membership focus. One aspect of it was to sign a membership covenant. For almost all of the members signing the covenant wasn’t that big of a deal, however, there was one man that refused to sign. It’s not that he didn’t agree with the covenant—on the contrary, he was a very faithful member. The difficulty was in actually signing the document. For him, it would contradict what he had already said. He was of an older generation and his upbringing dictated that his word was his bond. For him to sign something meant that his word wasn’t good enough. And for him, that was unacceptable. As I think back to that man, I am reminded of one word—faithfulness. He was faithful to his word and he wouldn’t go against it.

In our world today, faithfulness is increasingly rare. Couples who stand at the altar and pledge their undying love to one another, only a few short months or years later file for divorce because of an affair or irreconcilable differences. Businesses advertise great products or services only to reveal the “fine print” once their product or service fails. Employers make promises that they can’t fulfill, students cheat left and right, and the list goes on and on. Words are no longer our bond, but only are meant for the moment to be squeezed and twisted to suit whatever selfish or sinful pleasure our heart desires.

But for the child of God this cannot be. One of the fruits of God’s Spirit is faithfulness. As God is recreating His Son within us, He transforms our hearts from within. He places His Spirit within us to bring about the life of His Son—removing sin, self, and any satanic elements that prevent the life God desires. Instead, His Spirit works with our spirit, teaching us the things of God through the application of the written Word of God. And one of the Son’s character traits is faithfulness.

What does it mean to be faithful? It means staying true to one’s promises, being loyal, constant, and steadfast—even in the face of great aggression. We must stay true to our walk with God, our relationships, our promises, and our commitments. The child of God must be faithful.

The early church considered faithfulness one of the chief and most enduring of character traits and to deny Christ was considered a horrid and to some, the unforgivable sin. Consider Jesus’ words, “but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven”—Matthew 10:33. It is the faithful that God will honor, but it is the faithless that He will deny.

Faithfulness to Christ is a given, but what about faithfulness to one’s spouse? God desires that we be faithful to our spouse (1 Corinthians 7:1-5; Hebrews 13:4). He hates it whenever we aren’t, “But you say, ‘Why does He not?’ Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant”—Malachi 2:14.

Being faithful to God, one’s spouse, is clear, but how about being faithful to one’s word? Again, the Bible says,

“O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who… swears to his own hurt and does not change” 
—Psalm 15:1-2, 4.

We are to be faithful—to God, our spouses, children, jobs, employers, employees, colleagues, family, friends, and classmates. If we say we are going to do something, then we must do it—no matter what the hurt. Christ kept His Word, even when it meant His life.

How about you? Are you faithful? Do you keep your word? If you have been faithless, then God can make you faithful. Ask Him to help you be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”—1 Corinthians 15:58. And He will do it. He delights in recreating His Son within us and will do so to any and all who come to Him surrendered and ready and willing to follow Him. Amen.