The preachers quoted here begin with God: faithfulness is one of his perfections, displayed in Christ and not only in the past. In believers, they say, it springs from a trusting heart, is required of all who serve, shows in the careful use of what one has, and looks different in each person.
The Hebrew word for faithfulness means firmness, steadiness;1 the Greek adjective means trustworthy.2 A faithful person is one who can be relied on. Scripture applies the word first to God.
"Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him" (Deuteronomy 7:9). In the ruins of Jerusalem Jeremiah wrote, "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). God's faithfulness does not depend on ours: "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13).
The New Testament rests the believer's security on it. "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son" (1 Corinthians 1:9). "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Forgiveness is promised because "he is faithful and just" (1 John 1:9), and hope is held fast because "he is faithful that promised" (Hebrews 10:23). A. W. Pink wrote that "Faithfulness is one of the glorious perfections of His being",3 and John Gill that "The faithfulness of God is displayed in the person, office, and works of Christ."4
Christ is its embodiment. He was "faithful to him that appointed him" (Hebrews 3:2), and in Revelation he is called "Faithful and True" (Revelation 19:11).
In believers faithfulness is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, where the King James Version has "faith"). It is what God asks of servants: "it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2). It is tested in small things: "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much" (Luke 16:10). Proverbs notes how rare it is: "a faithful man who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6).
It is what is rewarded. The master in the parable does not say "successful" but "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things" (Matthew 25:21). And to a suffering church Christ says, "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
- Strong's Hebrew 530, ʼĕmûwnâh: "literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity".
- Strong's Greek 4103, pistós: "objectively, trustworthy; subjectively, trustful".
- A.W. Pink, "The Attributes of God 10. the Faithfulness of God" (sermon).
- John Gill, "Of the Faithfulness of God" (sermon).
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Faithfulness is one of the glorious perfections of His being.
A.W. Pink
in The Attributes of God 10. the Faithfulness of God
Read in context
The faithfulness of God is displayed in the person, office, and works of Christ.
John Gill
in Of the Faithfulness of God.
Read in context
The faithfulness of God is not only seen in past history.
Stephen Kaung
in Faithfulness - Being Called Out & Into
Listen at 16:45
Faithfulness is absolutely impossible unless it springs out of a trusting, believing heart.
David Wilkerson
in How to Be Faithful to God
Listen at 10:05
Faithfulness is a basic requirement for the one who wishes to serve the Lord.
George H. Alquist Jr.
in Faithfulness
Read in context
Faithfulness means that even when I have much, I'm careful in the use of it.
Zac Poonen
in (Manitoba 2001) God Seeks for Faithful People
Listen at 56:02
Faithfulness is something which is after God's own heart.
T. Austin-Sparks
in Stewardship (1 Corinthians 4:1,2)
Read in context
Faithfulness is not the same in any two people.
J.R. Miller
in Faithfulness
Read in context
What Scripture says
- Lamentations 3:22-23 great is thy faithfulness
- Deuteronomy 7:9 the faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful
- Luke 16:10 faithful in that which is least, faithful also in much
- Revelation 2:10 be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life
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