Be Faithful

By A.Zawngia

(This Message has been delivered on dt. 27^nd October, 2009 at JRTS’ Vesper Service)

        

    The topic for this short meditation service is “be faithful”, which is a very common but very important for our daily life, not only for Christians or Pastors but also for every individual. While it is important, it is not taught much in other religions as Christians. It has been frequently taught and written both in Old and New Testaments. God wants us “to be faithful”.

The Bible Texts that I have chosen are:

          The Master said to him (servant), “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you the in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master”.                                                                                      - Matthew 25:21.

“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”                                            - Luke 16:10-11.

What is faithful or faithfulnes? 
Faithful or faithfulness is Adjective of Faith, full of faith, steadfast in affection or allegiance or loyal , firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty, given with strong, true to the facts, to a standard

            
In the Thesaurus, faithful adj. is a firm in adherence to whatever one is bound to by duty or promise, i.e.  faithful public official, conscientious.

Synonym -  constant, fast, loyal, resolute, steadfast, steady, true , just, right, strict, authentic, convincing, credible, trustworthy, trusty.

Related words - dependable,  reliable, tried, trustworthy; affectionate, devoted, loving, etc.

Antonyms - faithless, unfaithful, disloyal, false,  

 Why do we need to teach about to be faithful?

Because, as human beings are social animals; everyone needs a faithful friend or friends. Masters need faithful students or servants. Similarly, students or servants also need faithful Masters. Each one of us wants to be known as a faithful person. That’s why we need to know what we want as well as what our friends want?

        We, human beings have original sin which is a sin from Adam and Eve. There is a tendency naturally to do wrong, offend the rules or breaking the laws, to corrupt, disobedient, disloyal, and all these lead into unfaithful, dishonest, and untrustworthy. Although we have been taught right from childhood till today by our parents, teachers, leaders, and pastors in the church so many times, but we still need to remind this topic “faithfulness” again and again.

    This faithless or unfaithfulness is coming into our hearts by nature itself. Sometimes we called it “temptation”. We can say that unfaithfulness is something which is not good to do. Sometimes it also happens because of living in the wrong place. Perhaps these may be knowingly and unknowingly. But God has given us conscience to know good and evil, so we know very well what is right and what is wrong. But mostly, by knowingly we repeat the same mistake and committed sin again. This is the beginning of loss of faith and unfaithfulness. So also here in Seminary, though we are treated as mature, we are not really mature. This maturity is not measured by age, but by deeds. While there are many mature and committed Christians here, there are a number of immature who seldom to think about this faithfulness.

Why does God want us to be faithful?

      First of all, our God is a faithful God. He never fails in what he has promised. He is just and perfect. So he wants us to be faithful – just and perfect, in the purpose that we are calling in -fulfilling responsibilities, duties and profession.

     As we have read from the Gospel of Matthew, it was a parable of talents that Jesus had given about faithful and unfaithful slaves. The master has many slaves and entrusted his property to them. He gave five talents to the first slave; two talents to the second and one to the third. That is according to their abilities. Then the master was going away for a long time. During his leaving, all his slaves had used the talents that they received. When the master returning, the first slave who received five talents gained another five (it is doubled); the second slave also another two ( it is also doubled as the first), but the last one who received one did not gain or multiply from the talent that he received. Then the master said to the first and the second, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you the in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master”. Here the master expressed a word of appreciation and he gave to them another more talents. But he scolded to the third slave, “you wicked and lazy slave!” because he was not multiplying. So he took away the talent which he gave.

         Brothers and sisters, here we found that there is no corruption, but while the first and the second slaves were hard working faithfully in order to multiply for their master by using the talents they received. In rewards, they were given more talents; but the master had taken from the third slave, though he was not involved corruption.

        Now let us examine ourselves, what and how many talents that Our Master has given you and me? Are we worked hard and faithful for Him to multiply our talents? He won’t be happy if we were not fulfilling the purpose that we are calling. This is the fact that the purpose of our coming here in JRTS is to study the word of God and to improve in our spiritual as well as physical needs for our future ministry. At the same time, we have to work hard in your study.

      Since last year, what I have found in this Seminary is, many friends are not serious in their studies. There is no willingness to secure better grade, though they have capabilities. Their ambitions are only to get-through, they do not bother for grade or improvement. They are just roaming here and there by day and night; they rarely stay at their room, and they are always looking for someone to chat and gossiping with. They do not think that they are disturbing others. When you visit your friends, please remember that, you are not only disturbing your friends but also his/her roommate. So I want to argue you, friends, do not visit to other rooms especially in night time. That is what Jesus called them as “Wicked and Lazy slaves” and you will be scolded as “Lazy students, wicked and hopeless future pastors”.

       So brothers and sisters, as we have read from the word of God, we are not just to simply live or to stay, not just to roam here and there, but we are called to work hard in our study faithfully and seriously. Let us always remember that God wants us to multiply our talents and He appreciates and blessed only to those who work hard, and fulfill their duties and responsibilities faithfully, i.e. to study sincerely and earnestly. Otherwise, it is very dangerous that God would take away the talents that he has given you now.

The second verses that we have just read are taken from the Gospel of Luke, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”                                            - Luke 16:10-11.

     The title for this parable is “Dishonest Manager”. There was a rich man who had a manager to whom he put all his properties to responsible for. He heard that his manager was not faithful and failed in management. So his business was going down. Then, he called his manager that he would be terminated from his job. Then Jesus said these words through this parable.

    In the Bible, there are many characters - both faithful and unfaithful people.  Joseph, the son of Jacob (Israel) is the most honest and faithful person. He had gone through many trials, circumstances and difficulties. Even though he was forsaken by his brothers and sold for as slave, he was survived out of dangerous situation because of his faithfulness to God. Later he was offered as a Manager job in the house of Potiphar from just slavery because of his faithfulness again. He was testified by different means temptation. As he was faithful, just and upright in his life, he was taken out of the prison and offered the job of Governor in Egypt; next to the Pharaoh of Egypt. Many scholars conclude that the life and character of Joseph is blameless. This is what Jesus is taking about, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much,”

     But, one of the disciples who was entrusted as the treasurer, Judas Iscariot sold his Master by thirty pieces of silver, because he loved silver or money than his Master. He lost his faith in the wealth of this world. His life is ended as suicidal. That’s why Jesus said so, “whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”   

      How can God trust upon those who are unfaithful! Even though we are not going to mention their name, we know them well. We do not like unfaithful persons for our leaders as well as for friends, isn’t it?

   There are many such persons among here; who are not faithful even in little. There are many leaders, pastors, evangelists and politicians, who appear as very good Christians but very corrupted in behind the scenes. One thing, I would like to share with you tonight, if there is tendency, it is possible to corrupt in every place and situation; for example, during manager-ship or even in a small activity. This is what we need to fight against it. Instead of dishonest, we should be rather true, loyal, just, right, strict, authentic, convincing, credible, trustworthy, and trusty. The word of God is true that when we are faithful in small responsibility, we will be trustworthy in big things, and even for our future ministry.

CONCLUSION

       In the accounts of the book of Revelation, Jesus spoke to the church of Smyrna as well as the believers of all over the world, to be faithful until death, so that we will be crowned the eternal life, not only for today but every day until death.

       Dear Brothers and sisters, I don’t know who you really are, but God knows you very well; whether you are faithful or not. And you also know yourself who you really are. This is the word of God that God hates those who are not faithful and dishonest people, so if you are of unfaithful, dishonest, lazy person, this is the right time to change the way of life, because he wants us to be faithful in our everyday life and in our deeds, to live in meaningful way, to work hard in the task that we have to take on. Even though there are many temptations and trials, remember that you are not struggling alone, but Jesus is in our side and is ready to help us, and take it that it is just a test for us to overcome, keeping our faith on him until death.

                  God bless each one of us through this short sharing.