The Art of Decision Making: Faithfulness
In the journey, we explore the profound influence of faithfulness. Let's dive into how this one word can be a game-changer and lead to a life that pleases God.
Part 6: Faithfulness
I confess—I'm an easily addicted individual. Whether it's my favorite cup of coffee, comfy socks, or a delightful dish, I am hooked once I find something that sparks joy. Loyalty is my middle name when it comes to the things that bring me unbridled happiness. I'm so faithful; my coffee and I are in a committed relationship!
Now, let's talk about the real game-changer: faithfulness. It's not just about sticking with life's delightful and joy-inducing aspects; it's about embracing the mundane, the less thrilling, and pre-deciding to stay true even when the happiness isn't knocking at your door.
Sure, I'll be the first to admit that if it doesn't bring an instant grin, my motivation tends to take a nosedive. But here's the secret sauce: in those moments, I've learned to pre-decide to be faithful, knowing that the joy, like a surprise party, is just around the corner—ready to jump out and greet me when I least expect it.
Take the gym, for instance. No one's dancing with joy during those tough workouts. It's more like a sweaty struggle for survival. But here's the kicker: faithful persistence pays off, and when you finally recognize your progress, cue the happy dance! It's like a victory party for your faithful commitment to those less-than-thrilling moments.
Imagine reaching the pearly gates, and God doesn't say, "Well done, my good and successful servant." No, no. Our heavenly father is all about that faithfulness. He's cheering, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" Faithfulness is the key to long-standing success.
Today, we're diving into the transformative power of faithfulness, where even the less glamorous moments become stepping stones to a life that pleases God. Get ready for a journey that brings joy and leaves a lasting imprint on every one your life touches.
What does it mean to be faithful?
In this series, we’ve talked about the quality of your decisions and how they affect the quality of your life. We must decide that when we are faced with situations, we will take a certain action.
You can decide today that you are faithful. Say this to yourself: I am faithful.
Many times, we work towards things that are easy and convenient. Being faithful and doing what is right is rarely easy and comes with a cost.
Habakkuk 2:4 (ESV): 4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
How do we live out faithfulness?
Living out faithfulness is all in how we treat people, steward resources, and respond to God. Every interaction is an opportunity to add value, multiply, and obey God.
Add Value
Everywhere you go and every person you meet and see is an opportunity to add value. If we are inconsistent and focused on ourselves, we might add value by chance. When we’re focused on adding value, we go from asking, “What do they think of me?” to “How can I add value to them?"
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV): 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
When you walk into a room, is the climate better? Are people better? Do you sense faith growing?
When the disciples worried, Jesus told them not to worry about what they ate or drank. When the woman sinned, and there was shame and accusations, Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn.” When Peter denied that he belonged to Jesus, trust should have been broken, but Jesus responded with love and said, “Feed my sheep.”
There was a time when I was a young man aspiring to be a Pastor. When I asked for mentorship, I was met with spiritual abuse and arrogance from leadership that left me broken and wondering if I would ever have the opportunity to serve in the capacity I knew I was called. Even though I learned a lot and grew in so many ways. I didn’t realize that my environment was toxic and wasn’t God’s plan for my life.
It was years later that God showed me something significant. I didn’t need permission to do what God had purposed for me to do. I didn’t need someone inviting me to use my gifts to use them as God intended. My identity is forever marked with God’s call on my life, and there was nothing that I, nor anyone else, could do to stop it.
Romans 8:28 (ESV): And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Remember, every interaction is an opportunity to add value.
Multiply
Every resource is an opportunity to multiply.
In Matthew 25, Jesus shares a parable about a wealthy man who embarks on a journey and entrusts his wealth to his servants. The master distributes his resources unevenly among three servants – five bags of gold to the first, two bags to the second, and one bag to the third, each according to their abilities. The first two servants, recognizing their responsibility, wisely invest and put their talents to work. The one with five bags takes a calculated risk, doubling his investment to ten bags, while the one with two bags also doubles his share to four. Their diligent efforts reflect a commendable stewardship of the master's resources.
On the contrary, the third servant, burdened by fear and lacking initiative, chooses a different path. He buries the single bag of gold in the ground, opting for a safe but unproductive approach. When the master returns, he commends the first two servants for their faithful and fruitful endeavors. However, disappointment awaits the third servant, who failed to recognize the value of risk and initiative. This parable is a powerful lesson about the importance of being faithful stewards of the gifts and opportunities entrusted to us, encouraging believers to actively engage and invest in the kingdom of God rather than succumbing to fear and complacency.
Matthew 25:21 (ESV): His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much...’
One of our most faithful acts is caring for what has been given and multiplying it. Whether caring for our home, the car, the yard, or any resource. We can make it better! The man who buried the master’s treasure was not just lazy; scripture calls him wicked.
Prompting To Obey
Acts 20:22 (ESV): And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,
When you are faithfully following Jesus, you can be prompted and compelled.
Obedience is our responsibility. The outcome is God’s.
God will put someone in your heart. You’ll be thinking about them, and you don’t know why. It’s because God has a plan for that moment.
You can pre-decide to be faithful, add value, multiply, and obey.
I haven’t always gotten it right, but faithfulness in the small things has been a key to my success.
Faithful in purity - When I was dating my wife and my relationship. I promised my faithfulness to her for as long as I live - we’re going on 15 years and counting.
Faithfulness in character - Every business I’ve been a part of and every client I’ve served, I serve with the love of Jesus.
We helped plant a church in 2016, which took a lot of obedience and faith that God would grow the church and us in the process.
I started writing, and I’ve been doing that consistently for 3 months now.
Faith believes that Jesus will continue the work he’s done in you and will not stop until you are with Him for all eternity.