by Faithfulness And Loyalty In The Bible
The Bible is replete with verses that demonstrate God’s expectations concerning faithfulness. These verses underscore God’s desire for his children to be faithful to him and, in turn, to others. When we are faithful to God, we will also be faithful in our beliefs, commitments, promises, and endeavors. Faithfulness is so important to the Lord that it is included as an example of the fruit of the spirit in Scripture. In Galatians 5:22 we read, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.” This is important because a major part of loving your neighbors as yourself is personifying the fruit of the spirit for them.
What may be the most instructive verse in the Bible on faithfulness is a verse typically quoted on the subject of salvation: John 3:16. Although this verse isn’t often used to teach the value of faithfulness, it is actually one of the best verses in Scripture for that purpose. God was so faithful in his relationship with you and me that he sent his only son to die on the Cross so we could be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life. This verse underscores more than any other verse from Scripture the potential cost of faithfulness. That cost is sacrifice and it is a cost you and I must be prepared to pay in our relationships.
Another example of faithfulness is found in 1 Samuel 24:6-10. In these verses, David confronts Saul who is hiding in a cave. Saul has tried in every way to kill David so he is certain that, given the chance, David will kill him. Yet just when David has his nemesis cornered and at his mercy, he refuses to harm Saul or allow his men to harm him. Instead, he spares Saul’s life. Rather than kill him, David bows to Saul and assures the king no harm will come to him. He tells Saul, “I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.” In refusing to kill him, something all of his men thought he had a perfect right to do, David was doing more than remaining faithful to Saul; he was remaining faithful to the Lord who had anointed Saul.
The Bible makes clear that faithfulness requires sacrifice. In no verse is this stated more poignantly than in John 15:13 where we read, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” There is no better example of loving one’s neighbors as yourself than being willing to die for them, just as Christ died for you and me. The annals of the various branches of the U.S. military are filled with the heroic stories of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who sacrificed their lives to protect the lives of their comrades. Similar stories can be found in the annals of police and fire departments nationwide. The memories of these sacrificial heroes are revered, and rightly so; they personified the example of sacrificial faithfulness set by Jesus Christ.
Benefits Of Faithfulness And Loyalty
Faithfulness is like gold; being rare increases its value. Whereas lives can be shattered by betrayal, they can be uplifted, inspired, and healed by faithfulness. Faithfulness can provide hope to people who are discouraged, reassurance to people who are struggling, and new life to people whose faith is wavering. It builds trust, increases dependability, and strengthens relationships. It can actually save lives.
Anyone who ever served in the U.S. Marine Corps has seen this contention borne out many times. The Marine Corps’ motto is Semper Fidelis, which is Latin for Always Faithful. This motto is emphasized beginning in boot camp and throughout one’s service in the Corps. To demonstrate what Semper Fidelis means in practical terms, new recruits are told story after story of how Marines sacrificed in combat to remain faithful to their fellow warriors, putting their lives at risk to save those of other Marines and refusing to leave one of their own behind, alive or dead. In many of the stories, one Marine made a conscious decision to die in order to save the lives of his comrades. This commitment to Semper Fidelis is one of the reasons Marines enjoy their well-deserved reputation for valor in combat.
The lives of countless Marines have been saved over the years because their comrades faithfully refused to leave them behind. Knowing their fellow Marines will stick with them no matter the cost and that they will never be left behind instills a Gung Ho attitude that has made the Marine Corps one of the most effective fighting forces in the history of our country. Faithfulness is that powerful, and not just in a military setting. It has the same positive effect in all human relationships.