Characteristics of Faithfulness in Christ
A final exam awaits you in the future, where God will evaluate your faithfulness in managing what you’ve been entrusted with in this world.
One day, every one of us will have a final exam. Jesus tells us about our final exam in the parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). You probably know the story. A master gives several workers talents (aka money) when he goes away. Two workers invest their shares and generate a surplus for their master, but a third worker buries his. The master commends the first two workers, saying to each, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 NLT). But he calls the third “lazy” and levels severe consequences against him.
* God is looking for faithful leaders. One day you’ll be judged—not on how large your Church is or how captivating your preaching is, but on how faithful you were with what God has given you. The parable is a picture of our final exam as followers of Jesus. Someday, Jesus will ask us how we used what we were given. Our faithfulness will determine whether He tells us, “Well done.” The good news is you can prepare now for that final exam. Jesus will look at eight different aspects of your life to judge your faithfulness. Here are the first four.
- You have the right values. Faithful people know what’s important—and what isn’t. They order their lives around what matters most. Proverbs 28:20 introduces us to two people with very different values: “A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished” (NIV). The Bible says Christians are like fish swimming upstream in a very materialistic world. We prove our faithfulness by refusing to conform to a system that values money above everything else.
- You care for the interests of others, not just your own. The Bible tells us God will judge our faithfulness by looking at our relationship with others. A great example of this is Paul and Timothy’s relationship. The apostle Paul says, “I don’t have anyone else like Timothy” (Philippians 2:20 GW). That’s a strong statement of support! Then he goes on with more details: “He takes a genuine interest in your welfare. Everyone else looks after his own interests, not after those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:20-21 GW). Our commitment to putting others first shows our faithfulness.
- You live a life of integrity before unbelievers. As pastors, we often focus on our reputation among believers. But the Bible tells us that a mark of faithfulness is what unbelievers think of us. When Paul lists church leadership qualifications, he includes “a good reputation with outsiders” (1 Timothy 3:7 NIV). When God determines your faithfulness, he doesn’t look at your testimony among Church members; He looks at your testimony among non-believers. Do your neighbors and co-workers trust you? Are you faithful in life’s little things?
- Faithful people keep their promises. When God evaluates your faithfulness, He will look at whether you’ve fulfilled the promises you’ve made. And you probably make an immense number of promises every day, like, “I’ll get back to you,” “The check is in the mail,” or “I’ll pray for you.” But according to Proverbs 20:25, “It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows” (NIV). Your commitments matter. Faithful leaders do what they say they will do. When they say they’ll make a hospital visit, they do it. When they make a commitment to their spouse and children, they fulfill that commitment.
- You develop and use your Spiritual gifts. God has made an investment in your life, and He expects you to do something with that investment. Peter wrote, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10 NIV). God expects you not only to use your own gifts, but to help others use theirs. These summer months in the West are notorious for unfaithfulness. Everyone needs time for rest and refreshment, but faithfulness doesn’t take a season off from developing and using our Spiritual gifts.
- You manage your money well. The Bible is very clear that how you handle your money is a test of faithfulness. In fact, Jesus said, “If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11 NCV). Ask yourself:
Do I pay my bills on time? Do I live within my budget? Am I consistent in tithing? How does my giving compare with my spending? How does my spending compare with my saving?
- You obey God’s commands. God defines faithfulness as obedience to His commands. In 1 Samuel 2:35, God says: “I will appoint a faithful priest to serve Me. He will do everything I want him to do” (GW). Pastor, any time you’re encouraging your congregants to obey God’s Word—whether they’re memorizing Scripture, sharing their faith, caring for the vulnerable, or something else—you’re helping them store up treasures in heaven as a reward for their faithfulness.
- You pass on to others what you learn. Faithfulness leads to multiplication. Paul gave a plan for faithful multiplication when he wrote, “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV). None of us would be here today if faithful men and women in the last 2,000 years of the Church hadn’t taken the time to write down the Scriptures and pass them on to others.
Whatever God has given you, He has called you to pass on to others. If He has given you a ministry, He wants you to be faithful with that. If He has given you financial resources, He wants you to be faithful with those.
* In summary, a final exam awaits you in the future, where God will evaluate your faithfulness in managing what you’ve been entrusted with in this world. Faithfulness to God-given duties is what sets effective leaders apart. Look through these eight characteristics and ask yourself whether you’re leaving a legacy of faithful ministry. May the Almighty God bless you as you remain faithful to God in Jesus’ Mighty name.
Source: Pr Nebayosi Bizige – Christ For All Nations Ministries, Nansana – Uganda
