The Goal is Whole: Empower Others E4: Faithfulness

FULL STUDY:

Faithfulness is a key that opens doors to growth and multiplication. Jesus said:

“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” (Luke 16:10)

Notice His contrast with faithful is “unrighteous”.

Jesus also told a parable to stress this principle. In the parable a man was going on a journey and called three of his “slaves” and entrusted amounts of money to them. Two of them used what they were entrusted with to generate more funds, doubling the value. But the other, just put it away safely until the man returned. When he did, he commended the first two, saying:

“Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21 and 23)

But to the third slave He said:

"you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.” (Matthew 25:27-28)

Jesus went on to call that person a “worthless slave”. The message has relevance in our attitude to fruitfulness, but to discover its true power we need to see this in context. Jesus was addressing a fallen world that does not produce a return in the fallen creation. At best, it is talent buried in the ground. In contrast, Jesus, as one who came to serve the Father’s will was intentional and fruitful. He came to seek and save that which is lost, to become the firstborn among many brothers, and produce an enormous return – a whole new race! And now, in Him, we are called to be part of that, and embrace the call to be faithful and fruitful too.

Faithfulness happens as we tap the faithfulness of Jesus, in the new creation. It is really a trait of what we call “true holiness” – the nature of Jesus outworked from within (see unit 3). As we walk closely with Jesus and seek to live out of the new nature, we will discover the inner motivation and impetus to pursue faithfulness. It is His nature within us.

In growing in the new creation and becoming fruitful in the community, faithfulness is one of the strongest attributes. Paul was amazingly clear about this in reference to his co-workers/protégés:

“For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 4:17)

“But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.” (Ephesians 6:21)

“just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf.” (Colossians 1:7)

“and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number.” (Colossians 4:9)

Timothy, Tychicus, Epaphras, and Onesimus are all described by Paul as faithful. This was Paul’s pattern, what he looked for, and also what he told Timothy to look for in those he would mentor:

“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)

So we see that the key characteristic is not age, gifting, eloquence, fervor, or qualifications. The key characteristic is faithfulness!

So, what exactly is faithfulness? The word means “trustworthy, trustful, believe, sure, true, reliable. It comes from the root word faith, which itself means firm persuasion, or literally, “a conviction based upon hearing” (Strong’s dictionary). Without faith, Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “it is impossible to please God”.

A faithful person is one who can be relied upon. But what is it that makes someone a person you can really rely on? It is not just about resoluteness, but about being convinced. A faithful person is literally one who is full of faith, one who has become convinced of what they have heard. Such a person carries a trustworthiness because they are not just carrying out instructions, they are outworking a conviction of their own.

In looking towards multiplication, and seeking out someone to pour our life into, we are to seek out “faithful” people. Not those who grit their teeth and try to obey a system or set of doctrines or commandments, but those who have broken through into Christ, into that place of rest, and personal conviction of Him and His truth. Such a person is going to be fixed on growing in Christ, not on being taught things in the sense realm. So, our first task is to lead people to that place of personal faith, which leads to faithfulness. It is a fruit of the spirit.

Years ago we were living with a family who used to say to their teenage children that were on their way out somewhere, “Remember who you belong to”. They didn’t mean, remember whose family you are from, but remember that you belong to Jesus. If you are convinced you are His, you have the foundation of faithfulness.

In all of our efforts to help others grow, we are helping them live in union with Jesus. The more they do that, the more faithful they will become. Remember always, we are not interested in people being faithful to us, but faithful to Him. If that is their focus, they can become fruitful far beyond us!

Here are three suggestions towards developing faithfulness in your life, or helping someone else develop it in theirs:

1. Just as Jesus said, practice being faithful in small things.

This is because the opportunity will most likely come to us first in small things. As we discern His will and agree to go with it, we will align and His grace will empower us from within. It will create a character trait in us in His ways. We can then expect to receive more. That is the growth principle. Seeking the will of God and aligning with it is the quickest way to grow up into maturity:

“Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:13-14)

Notice the root problem here in verse 11, “you have become dull of hearing”. Faithfulness develops from an attitude of hearing God and doing His will. This is empowered from within, through alignment with His nature and His Spirit.

Also, notice verse 14, “who because of practice have their senses trained”. This is not a head-religion, but a conviction outworked from within that results in carrying the nature of Jesus. Training the senses is part of our growing process, where we receive His will, embrace it and follow Him. This is the path to fruitfulness, abiding in Him and letting His words abide in us. It releases His grace and power from within us – this is the life of living in His strength and not our own. Someone that is on this path is a “faithful” person, that we should look to invest in.

2. Seek more from Jesus. Never rest back in passivity.

Jesus Himself said:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Seeking more revelation and understanding from Jesus is a root characteristic of faithfulness. Hearing from Him develops faith, and as we make that real in us through actions, so faithfulness develops:

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

“Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:17-18)

3. Learn from mistakes by others in your life

Sometimes we go through things that hurt us, and may cause us to lose our joy, develop bitterness, and struggle in our walk with Jesus and His people. There are two simple steps to take care of this and move on into more growth. First, forgive:

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

The forgiveness of Jesus is always the fuel for us to forgive others.

The second step is to then consciously learn from the way others caused you hurt. Let this develop a positive value in you, as you determine not to live that way towards others yourself. This is how to develop a receptive heart, willing to learn and grow through difficulty, and turning it around for future fruitfulness and encouragement. This is also one of the secrets to maintaining a thankful heart.

Developing faithfulness in ourselves, and in those we encourage, is a key to being fruitful and multiplying. “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much.”