Faithfulness is denotatively defined as the quality of being
steadfast in affection or allegiance; to be firm in adherence to promises or in
observance of duty; to be true to the facts, to a standard, or to an original.
(Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, n.d.) This term nowadays usually has the
connotation of simply staying consistent
with what one has originally said. Faithfulness, however, is not simply staying
true. The word faithfulness is derived from the Hebrew word ‘e-meth—a word contracted from the Hebrew word ‘âman, which means to build up or
support; figuratively, to render firm, to be permanent, or quiet. Being faithful, then, according to its Hebrew
origin, is about one’s trustworthiness. To be a faithful person is to have certainty
in truth. In the Scripture, the word “faithfulness” appeared 75 times, with
“faithful” appearing just about as much—78 times. If one searches for all the
occurrences of the word ‘emeth in the
original translation, one would see that there are a total of 125 instances the
word is used throughout the Old and New Testaments. Such a significant number of
occurrences can only mean one thing: the idea of faithfulness is significant,
if not crucial.
But how does the
Bible really defines faithfulness? How is it characterized and described?
Perhaps the first instance that it was used can shed some light on the matter.
In Genesis 24, the Bible tells us of how Isaac and Rebekah met and ended up
getting married. This chapter narrates the story of how Abraham, when he was
old and advanced in years, instructed the oldest servant to not get a Canaanite
woman for Isaac as his wife, but to go back to his kindred and get a wife for
Isaac there. The following verses narrate how the LORD has greatly prospered
the servant’s endeavor and led him to Rebekah. In verses 26-27, it says, “The man bowed his head and worshipped the LORD and said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the
God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his
faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the
house of my master’s kinsmen.’” (ESV) There you have the word. Faithfulness. What can one learn from
this story about what faithfulness really is? Defining faithfulness through the context of Abraham’s
life, this article will look into how faithfulness is an undeniable character
of God, an evident trait of God’s people, and an uncompromising attitude toward
God’s word.
As made very apparent
in the story, faithfulness is first and foremost an undeniable character of
God. Notice how the chapter started with a strong statement. “Now Abraham was
old, well advanced in years. And the LORD
had blessed Abraham in all things. (v. 1) The verse does not just say God
has been faithful in Abraham’s life milestones. It does not say God has blessed
Abraham if and when Abraham is perfectly obedient. The LORD has blessed Abraham in all things. All encompasses everything. Abraham has lived many years under the constant blessing of the LORD in all things, in all aspects. This fact
is the perfect description of faithfulness. From calling Abraham out of the
city of Ur, to his journey to Canaan, to his days of sojourning there, to his
ultimate test of having to sacrifice his son, to all of the things that
transpired after—God has blessed him,
nonstop, in all things. That is faithfulness. That is an undeniable
character of God. It is no little thing also to notice that the very first
instance that the word faithfulness occurred in the Bible refers to the LORD’s
faithfulness. He has “not forsaken his steadfast love and faithfulness to [Abraham].”
(v. 27) It rightly points us to the ultimate standard and measure of what
“staying true” really means—to be faithful is to be like God, to be constant
and true in your showing of love and mercy, according
to His standard. God’s faithfulness
follows His people all the days of their lives, simply because He chose to do
so; because faithful is who He is.
Abraham’s story,
secondly, also clearly indicates that faithfulness is an evident trait of God’s
people. Being recipient to the constant showers of blessing and mercy, Abraham
throughout his entire life has learned that the only right response to God’s
faithfulness is faithfulness back to Him. As he approaches his death because of
old age, Abraham sees to it that he still remains faithful and true to the
LORD, as made evident in these verses:
And Abraham said to his servant, the
oldest of his household, who had charge of all he had, “Put your hand under my
thigh, that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of
earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the
Canaanites, among whom I dwell…” (v. 2-3)
A few chapters and
years back, one would see that Abraham’s dispositions were completely
different. He would lie if he thinks telling the truth would threaten his life
(Gen. 12; Gen. 20); he would resort to schemes not approved by God if he thinks
that an unapproved way can get him the blessings God promised him (Gen. 16). God’s
faithfulness to Abraham all those years, however, taught Abraham the right
response. God’s steadfast love and unceasing mercies and blessings taught
Abraham’s heart to remain wholly true to what the LORD revealed to be His will.
The result? At the end of his life, after all the lessons and the revelations
of who God is—that He is faithful and steadfast, and gives fresh mercies every
morning—Abraham is now very determined to hold on to His promises and to keep
His statutes. Knowing the evilness of the people of Canaan, Abraham insisted on
not be tainted by the foreign land’s evil and seeks to protect his son from
the imminent dangers of an evil company as well. Nothing is more intimate and
influential of a company than that of one’s spouse, and Abraham sees to it that
such a vital part of his son’s life will be faithful to the LORD. His servant,
likewise, displays such faithfulness to God when he entreats the favor of God
in his expedition, knowing that his efforts can prosper only if it stays true
to the will of God. And he said, “O
LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show
steadfast love to my master Abraham.” (v.12) Faithfulness is an evident trait
of His people. Because God is faithful in showing His steadfast love and
undeserved mercies, man’s only right response is faithfulness to Him and to
seeking His face and favor.
Consequently, yet another thing
to be gleaned from the story is that faithfulness is an uncompromising attitude
of God’s people toward His word. Abraham portrays this attitude when he was
giving instructions to his servant in the following verses:
The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow
me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you
came?” Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there.
The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the
land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring, I
will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a
wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then
you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back
there.” (vv. 5-8)
God has explicitly told Abraham to “Go from your country and your
kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1),
which in time God revealed to be the land of Canaan. Leaving the land and going
back to Ur would mean doing the opposite of what God wants. This idea is
something Abraham would not even consider doing. Through his discernment, he
knows that it is best to find a wife for Isaac from among his kindred; but this
discernment never takes the higher authority than what God has explicitly
revealed to be His will—for Abraham and his offspring to be in Canaan. If carrying
out his discernment would mean straying from God’s word, Abraham would not have
any of it. This picture is a portrayal of faithfulness. To be faithful is to
abide by God’s word, no matter the consequences, no matter your prior
discernment.
Right at the first
instance that it was used, one can already glean that faithfulness goes beyond
the usual connotation of simply being consistent. What most people today do not
realize is that to be rendered faithful would require certain prerequisites.
Firstly, because faithfulness is an innate character of God, the faithfulness of
man is God-given; therefore, without the saving knowledge and experiential
encounter of God, no one can be faithful. One who thinks he is faithful in all
the things he does but who also cannot say that he is bowing down to God’s rule
is not really faithful. He may have appearances of faithfulness, but without
God’s grace, the best that he can do is to keep up with his pretenses until God
Himself reveals his heart’s true condition. Subsequently, faithfulness is
expected of God’s people; thus, if you are saved, then you are faithful. God’s
grace is given to those whom He saves, and His faithfulness and steadfast love would
cause faithfulness to grow in you. If you are not faithful, or if you have your
areas of inconsistencies, then you are either not of Him, or you lack in experiential
knowledge of who God is. Lastly, what we can glean from the story of Abraham
and his servant is that faithfulness is having consistent, uncompromising
regard for God’s word. No one can claim that he is faithful if he regards the
word of God ever so lightly. No one can declare himself faithful if he does not
treat God’s revealed will as the ultimate, deciding factor in all of his life’s
decisions—whether it be as seemingly insignificant as choosing what to eat, or
as vital as choosing a spouse. God’s word is the standard and measurement of
faithfulness. If one does not adhere to it, that person cannot be deemed
faithful.
It has often been
told that faithfulness is a vital part of all success in life, which is true.
What people miss out on most of the time, however, is that faithfulness can
come only from God, who is the embodiment of faithfulness. Too often, a man tries
so hard to do things right without God’s grace to uphold him. Abraham’s story
tells us otherwise. This story tells us that faithfulness is a gift God gives
to whomever He pleases, and, ultimately, it is His grace that grants this trait
to His people.
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