The Necessity of Faithfulness

Hebrews 3:1–6 NKJV

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

I want to talk to you about the necessity of faithfulness for the Christian who aspires to lead.

God gives to each of us a sphere of influence where we can help lead people toward Him (Matthew 28:18-20).

Each of us have experienced the difference between leaders we can trust and those we can’t. In a way, faithlessness is the source of hypocrisy.

Developing faithfulness in order to lead well is the only way that we are going to lead effectively into the future.

Did you know that there have been reported historic lows in the confidence and trust that people have? Trust in media, military, courts, politicians, and even in the American voter has diminished greatly.

When we can learn to lead in a way that honors and reflects God, we will be examples of the types of leaders the world needs.

The Fruit of Faithfulness

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Despite what we may think, implementing the five-simple-steps of the leadership guru are not likely to rebuild trust. Fads and popular content has their place but we need a kingdom solution to the problem of plummeting trust.

Solutions offered by the world are superficial options at best and doomed to fail at worst. But a kingdom solution goes deeper and builds a firm foundation.

When we embrace the Spirit and partner with God to cultivate the fruit of faithfulness in our lives we will be prepared to better lead the people in our sphere.

Cultivating Faithfulness

Just as we saw, Jesus is faithful and Moses was faithful. And as a result received honor and whose lives were a testimony of the kingdom of God.

If you hope to be an effective leader, you need to become like Christ in a greater way. Here are some thoughts that will help you in your pursuit:

Faithfulness is a Requirement

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 NKJV

1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

To be godly leaders, we must understand and recognize that faithfulness is a requirement.

Biblical faithfulness is not just about fidelity. It carries the meaning of being full of faith, trustful, even responsible.

It implies confidence, certainty, and trust.

To lead well we must be full of faith and trust in God. We also need to be the kind of person who others, including God, can have confidence in and count on to be responsible and trustworthy.

The starting point of developing this quality is in the small, every day, little things.

Luke 16:10 NKJV

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

Matthew 25:23 NKJV

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Illustration: D.L. Moody remembered a dream someone shared with him. Man died, angel took him to a beautiful temple. He admired it but found a spot were a small stone was missing. Asked. The angel replied, “That was left out for you; but you wanted to do great things, and so there was no room left for you.”

Begin to develop your faithfulness and credibility as a leader with the small things. Build your credibility with your team, your family, others by being faithful in the small things.

Unfaithfulness Has a Cost

Numbers 20:7–12 NKJV

7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. 12 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

This story reminds us that unfaithfulness has a cost.

Failing to remain faithful to the will of God led to Moses not being able to go into the Promised Land.

Our unfaithfulness can lead to us losing the blessing connected to our jobs, families, relationships, churches.

Illustration: The news of recent FTX crypto exchange billionaire founder scam has just broke. This will affect the whole crypto industry. It has already affected those who put money into it. Even worse, when details about how some of that money was used to fund political campaigns. This undermines confidence in systems like finance and government.

Once you lose trust and confidence it is incredibly difficult to get it back and restore what was lost. In fact, if you do not lead with faithfulness in your job and relationships you may never recover what is lost.

Faithfulness to Whom it is Due

Romans 13:7 NKJV

Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

There are three important spheres that we must develop our faithfulness in if we are going to be effective and godly leaders.

First, we must be faithful to God (Revelation 2:10).

This means that we live trusting in Him with our lives.

It also means that He can find us trustworthy and responsible to carry out His will.

Additionally, this includes that we are faithful to His teachings and values.

Second, we must be faithful to those we are called to serve.

Faithful to our spouses

Faithful to our children

Faithful to our brethren

Faithful to our bosses

Finally, we must be faithful to ourselves.

This means we do not violate our integrity

This means that we do not compromise our values.

This means we operate with boundaries.

In whatever way we can we must choose to be faithful. In order for God and others to trust us, we have to work to develop and practice this fruit of the Spirit.

Illustration: William Booth ministry to the outcasts of society: prostitutes, homeless, poor, drunk. He brought them the 3 S’s - soup, soap, and salvation. He went blind and when his son brought him the report that he would likely never see again he said, “God must know best, Bramwell. I have done what I could for God and the people with my eyes. Now I shall do what I can for God and the people without my eyes.” - The General: William Booth, Volume 2, David Bennet

If you want to be a stronger leader and an effective one, you need to be faithful. Be faithful to God. Be faithful to those you are called to serve. And be faithful to yourself.

Conclusion

Faithfulness is not something that is usually emphasized at seminars or schools. But it is something that Jesus lived and modeled.

It was Moses’ faithfulness that was a quality that endeared him to God. It was this quality that God pointed out to Aaron and Miriam when they spoke against him.

Numbers 12:5–8 NKJV

5 Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. 6 Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. 8 I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”

Your faithfulness with draw God’s attention.

Being a faithful leader will make you someone worth following and as you continue to develop faithfulness in all things people will gravitate toward you.

Because you choose to do these things you will begin to shift the culture around you—in your home, workplace, the church, etc.

If you continue through to the end you will hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25.23).