STRATEGIC INSTRUCTION FOR WORKERS
TOPIC: THE IMPERATIVENESS OF FAITHFULNESS
INTRODUCTION
Having “all sufficiency” is only possible if we are faithful. The apostle Paul alludes to faithfulness in our focal scripture for the theme “all sufficiency”.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (KJV)
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
The words “as he purposeth in his heart…” point to faithfulness.
Purposing in our hearts determines our actions, which in turn determine the grace and sufficiency God gives us. All sufficiency does not come to just any body.
Faithfulness is when we purpose in our hearts and give our hearts, time, energy, money, reputation, future and properties to God and others without hesitation.
The afore listed things are things we give – note it is not only money we are required to give.
When we purpose in our hearts to give to God and others we should not change our minds or withdraw our gifts – there is no room for negotiation, resignation or even retirement. Don’t give the sacrifice of fools.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (KJV)
1 Keep thy foot when thou goes to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
THE IMPERATIVENESS OF FAITHFULNESS
In other places in the Scriptures the apostle Paul directly addresses the imperativeness of faithfulness. Servants of the Lord must be faithful. It is imperative that we should be faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (KJV)
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgement: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (MSG)
1 Don’t imagine us leaders to be something we aren’t. We are servants of Christ, not his masters. We are guides into God’s most sublime secrets, not security guards posted to protect them.
2 The requirements for a good guide are reliability and accurate knowledge.
3 It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don’t even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless.
4 I’m not aware of anything that would disqualify me from being a good guide for you, but that doesn’t mean much. The Master makes that judgement.
5 So don’t get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgements before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of—inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the “Well done!” of God.
The word faithfulness in the above scripture reference is the Greek word, pistos
meaning trustworthy, trustful, truthful and believing.
FOCUS ON PERSONAL FAITHFULNESS
One way in which unfaithfulness comes into our lives is when we stop striving to be faithful and focus on others’ errors and acts of disobedience.
We should desist from judging others and seek to be faithful.
We should not judge things and people before God’s judgement comes.
Luke 6:37-38 (KJV)
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.