Faithfulness In Service

As believers in God’s service, we are required of faithfulness in the delivery of our assigned duties and personal commitment to Him Who has appointed us (1Cor 4:2). And in the show of such faithfulness, we must follow the example of Jesus Christ as described in Heb 3:1-2a and Phil 2:5-8.

Components of Faithfulness

As with Jesus, there are critical features that contributed to His faithfulness in His assignment.

Availability: The very first thing He did was to make Himself available. He answered the call to go in Isaiah 6:8 and in Phil 2:6-7, He relinquished His glory to be qualified for the assignment. It therefore implies that faithfulness in service requires some levels of sacrifice from the word go.

Humility: Only the humble will receive the grace to complete the assignment (1Pet 5:5-6). To be faithful, you must be clothed in humility; you must let go of your pride. You must be ready to trade your pride in the place of service.

Obedience: To be faithful in service, you must obey every instruction and carry them out as instructed. The end of obedience is in the proper execution of the instruction as directed. Until the instruction is properly executed, obedience is partial and without reward. Jesus obeyed until death (Phil 2:8) while Saul lost his position as a king over Israel due to partial obedience (2Sam 15:18-22). At the inauguration of Joshua, God instructed him that he must place premium on obedience if he must succeed in the assignment that has been committed into his hand. And such obedience does not end in the observance of the laws of Moses but in the doing of those laws (Josh 1:6-9). That passage also teaches us that it takes diligence, courage and strength of character to accomplish full obedience. Jesus got to a point in His assignment where His obedience was seriously threatened and it took the strength of character and uncommon courage to voice out the line of prayer, “…Let thy will be done” (Luke 22:42).

Commitment: To be faithful in service, you must be committed to the assignment. Jesus was so committed to His assignment that He despised the shame.

Perseverance: Faithfulness entails perseverance; endurance till the very end. You must be ready to endure the cross, the challenge, the ridicule. It is until you endure till the end that you can be considered fit for the reward (Heb 12:2; Luk 9:62).

Rewards of Faithfulness

God is not unfaithful to reward those that diligently serve Him.

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb 6:10-12”

There are therefore rewards for those who through faithfulness accomplished their assignments:

• They are seated in the place of glory (Heb 12:2)

• They are promoted ahead and above their contemporaries (Phil 2:9-11)

• They have good success and are prosperous (Josh 1:6-9)

• They receive double portion of blessing (Matt 25:14-28).

Conclusion

Moses was found faithful in the capacity of a servant whereas Jesus was in the capacity of a son (Heb 3:1-6). No matter the capacity, nothing short of faithfulness is expected from you. You must be faithful to Him who has appointed you.