Have you wondered what it means to be found faithful?

Webster defines faithful: “steadfast in affection or allegiance…firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.”

Thesaurus uses these words to enhance the meaning: authentic, loyal, devoted, trustworthy, dependable, reliable, dedicated, committed.

My understanding: being found faithful means being a good steward of the life God has given us.

Paul wrote, “So then, let us [apostles] be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God. Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust]” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Amplified).

Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 about a man preparing to travel. He gave talents to three servants. To one he gave five talents. To the second, he gave two. And to the last, he gave one. Upon his return the servants gave an account. The one who had received five talents and the one who received two both had doubled their money. The third servant said, “I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”

To that man he said, “You wicked and lazy servant…you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

To the two servants who had earned profit, he said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Proverbs 28:20 says, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings…” Psalm 31:23 says, “The Lord preserves the faithful…”

Paul wrote to Timothy, “I give thanks to Him Who has granted me [the needed] strength and made me able [for this], Christ Jesus our Lord, because He has judged and counted me faithful and trustworthy, appointing me to [this stewardship of] the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12 Amplified).

If we aren’t careful, weariness can cripple our faithfulness, entangling us with cares of this life and drowning us in hopelessness. Long years in hard places drained my passion and caused me to question my purpose.

If we aren’t careful, weariness can cripple our faithfulness, entangling us with cares of this life and drowning us in hopelessness. Long years in hard places drained my passion and caused me to question my purpose. Click To Tweet

The experience of beloved missionary and author Elisabeth Elliot helped me find my way out of the slump. In 1956 her husband Jim and four other missionaries were brutally murdered while attempting to share the gospel message with the savage Auca Indians in Equador. Later God did an amazing work in that tribe, but she was left with a young daughter and an uncertain future. One of the great lessons she learned: God will always give you the power to do the next thing.

Her words led me to ask myself: what is my next thing? The Lord suggested I’d been in a slump because my goals were vague. Instead of worrying about finishing assorted projects, I needed to simplify my focus: what shall I do today? I can be sure he will provide power to do it.

The Lord led me to this: “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those who hope in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you” (Psalm 33:18-22 NIV).

What more do I need to know? My hope is in the unfailing love of the Lord. He is my help and my shield. I trust in his holy name and rest in his unfailing love as I hope in him. Hopelessness is a thought pattern, not a reality.

My hope is in the unfailing love of the Lord. He is my help and my shield. I trust in his holy name and rest in his unfailing love as I hope in him. Hopelessness is a thought pattern, not a reality. Click To Tweet

Jesus made a curious comment when his disciples were urging him to eat. “’My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work’” (John 4:34). On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). How did he do it? How did he finish his work? He prayed to his Father in heaven and obeyed.

That’s a doable plan for me going forward: pray and obey. As for fulfilling my purpose…isn’t that his responsibility? And isn’t he able to complete what he begins? Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (NIV).

What has God called you to do? Are you committed to seeing his purpose fulfilled in your life? What is he showing you to do today? Please leave a comment—and share this with your friends!

© Dianne Barker 2020