“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22–23

While goodness may be an overused word, faithfulness has become an uncommon one. There was a time when we could say that companies were faithful to their employees and employees were faithful to their employers. Sadly, that is not often the case today. Faithfulness was once celebrated when couples reached their twenty-fifth or fiftieth wedding anniversary, but even those milestones have become increasingly rare.

When we think of faithfulness, words such as loyalty and trustworthiness come to mind. The prophet Jeremiah declared: “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22–23).

Peter the Apostle refers to God as “a faithful Creator” (1 Pet. 4:19). The Lord Jesus is called “the Faithful Witness,” emphasizing His perfect manhood (Rev. 1:4–5). He is also called “the Faithful and True Witness” in contrast to a failing church (Rev. 3:14), and once again “Faithful and True” as He will be revealed in a coming day (Rev. 19:11).

The faithfulness of our God is seen throughout the New Testament (1 Cor. 1:8–9; 10:13; 1 Thess. 5:24; 1 John 1:9). Faithfulness is part of the very character of God the Father and God the Son, and They desire to see it displayed in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are encouraged to be faithful in times of persecution (Rev. 2:10), faithful to doctrinal purity (3 John 3–5; Gal. 1:9; 2 Tim. 2:23–24), and faithful to others (3 John 5; 2 Tim. 2:2). We read in 1 Corinthians 4:2 that “it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Since we are stewards of everything we have been given, this applies to each one of us.

It is obvious, because of the fallen nature of mankind, that you and I cannot be faithful to God through our own strength. This can only happen through the power of the Holy Spirit. Faithfulness is an aspect of His fruit being produced in us by Him. May we have a greater desire to allow Him to work in us, reproducing the character of Christ through our lives.

Yet there is a wonderfully encouraging verse for us to lay hold of that underscores God’s faithfulness: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13).

Anchor For Today:
Faithfulness is our business; Fruitfulness is an issue that we must be content to leave with God.
– J. I. Packer