Demonstrating faith
There’s a line in the familiar hymn I will sing of the mercies of the Lord that goes, “With my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations.” Written around 1864 by James Fillmore, the song is based on Psalm 89:1 which reads, “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” It also draws a likeness to David’s words in Psalm 119:90, “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.”
While our faithfulness will never compare to God’s, we are called to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). So how does faithfulness manifest itself in our lives? Our faith is not just something we believe; faith is something we live. Faithfulness therefore should be demonstrated in all aspects of how we live.
Having a heart of compassion and willingly helping others is example of faithfulness. In 1 John 3:17, the question is asked, “whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” A mark of God’s love in us is helping those in need. Some may mistake helping those in need to be limited to those with strong purse strings, however a willingness to help others is about far more than money. It requires genuine care and concern.
Faithfulness is also demonstrated in how we work. When Josiah set about to repair the temple, we read in 2 Chronicles 34 that the men labouring “did the work faithfully:” (v.12). Paul exhorted believers at Colossae in Colossians 3:23-24 that “whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the LORD ye shall receive the reward of inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” When we remember Who it is we’re serving – regardless of where we work or what we work at – we are reminded of the importance of faithfulness in our vocation.
Even in guarding our tongues and watching our mouths, our faithfulness is made manifest. The correlation may not appear obvious at first, but we read in Proverbs 11:13 that “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” An example of our faithfulness is when we think before we speak, and when we consider our words. We are encouraged in Ephesians 4:29 to “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Minister grace – we convey the message – is part of our faithfulness. As we are told in Proverbs 25:13, the faithful messenger refreshes the soul of his masters.
Oswald Chambers wrote that “It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God: but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, to be holy in mean streets, among mean people, and this is not learned in five minutes.” Where has God placed us today? Even though it may seem menial, it is here that we should serve faithfully. Even the smallest act of obedience to God is an opportunity to demonstrate faithfulness. There is no person who is without significance, and no task too small.
Our faithfulness is even revealed in the little things. Jesus said that “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:” (Luke 16:10). Even in the mundane, we should sing of the mercies of the Lord.