Whether married, engaged to be married, or simply want to be married, we all look for two things in our mates; faithfulness and trustworthiness. No one wants a cheater that will step out on them and bring mess back into the home. In like manner, we can not step out on God, bring mess back into the body of Christ, and expect to reap the benefits of covenant. God is faithful and He responds to faithfulness.
Faithfulness makes a difference. People that are faithful make things happen in their homes, on their jobs, in their communities, and, yes, in their churches. Even if people around them do not act right, faithful people can change the atmosphere.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 states, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards that a man be found faithful.” In the Amplified translation, the passage reads “So then let us [apostles] be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God. Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].”
The three things we need in order to cultivate faithfulness are availability, accountability, and attitude.
- Availability means being suitable or ready for service, qualified and willing to serve or assist, at hand, readily obtainable, having sufficient power, profitable. When you are available to God, you present your body a living sacrifice. You do not worry about man’s approval or man trying to reward you. It does not matter who is on the program. You are a debtor to the ministry. You realize it is not about you, but it is about God, and if you make yourself available, He can work through you.
- Accountability means being subject to your obligations, able to justify something, responsible, answerable. Wouldn’t you call your job if you were going to be late to work? You should give your Pastor, choir director, or committee chair the same courtesy. When services are going on in the ministry, you can not afford to be unaccountable. You can not afford to serve God on your convenience. Or pick and choose when you are going to show up. It could be that the very time you decide not to show up, God sends someone for you to minister to. What happens if you are no where to be found?
- Attitude means manner, disposition, feeling, or passion toward someone or something. Our hunger and thirst for God must be greater than anything else. We understand that we must bless the Lord at all times and come before Him with gladness. We must choose to have the right attitude. You can not afford to wear your feelings on your shoulder. You can not come aggravated and agitated and expect a mighty move of God.
In Isaiah 38, the prophet Isaiah was sent to tell Hezekiah to get his affairs in order because his illness would lead to his death. But Hezekiah prayed to God, reminding Him of his faithfulness to do all God had told him to do. God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and reversed the word from the prophet, adding fifteen years to his life. God responds to Himself. Can He find Himself in you? Can you be counted on above the rest? Can God count on you to show up when nobody else well? Can God trust you to remain faithful?
