It’s interesting to look at the people Paul publicly affirmed in his letters. When referring to them, the thing he commended was NOT their oratorical skills, or their personality, or their effectiveness, or their wealth, or any of the other things we often value so much in people and leadership. So often it was their FAITHFULNESS that he pointed out.
Listen to some of these examples:
• 1 Corinthians 4:17 – “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord…”
• Colossians 1:7 – “As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ.”
• Colossians 4:7 – “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.”
• Colossians 4:9 – “With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.…”
Peter did the same thing in 1 Peter 5:12 when he referred to Silvanus as “a faithful brother.”
Do you see the importance of faithfulness in the life of Christians that is evident throughout the Bible?
Why do these Bible writers place such value on the faithfulness of those whom they commend? Because “…it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)
- Precept Austin