Mission: Faithfulness

By Diane Conn

When you search for the word faithfulness in the Bible, you find many references about God’s faithfulness toward us (Psalm 36:5; 40:10; 88:11; 143:1; Isaiah 25:1; and Lamentations 3:23). Psalm 89:1 states, “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” As His disciples, we must make His faithfulness known and follow His example in our lives.

Paul’s letter to Timothy is a prime example of how faithfulness extends to those around us. Timothy witnessed the faithfulness of his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5). Paul encouraged Timothy to continue in their example. The Apostle also charged Timothy to pass to others what he had learned from Paul (2 Timothy 1:13; 2:2).

Faithfulness in the Workplace

Colossians 3:23 tells us to do whatever we do as if doing it for the Lord. God expects our best in everything. You cannot share Jesus with your co-workers if you are not faithful to do your best. Your example speaks louder than your words. Work hard!

If Jesus is your joy, that joy will spill over into your workplace. It should not matter whether you are on the lowest rung of the ladder or at the top. A Christian worker should be humble enough to learn from others and teach others patiently.

Christians in the workplace should be a beacon of hope to unbelievers. They see how Christians respond to disappointment, setbacks, hurts, and office gossip. Christians also present a different perspective, a different worldview. Let Jesus shine through you, so you can share about Him with others.

Daniel was recognized for his good work ethic and faithfulness (Daniel 6). Unfortunately, this also made him a target. Christians sometimes face similar challenges in the workplace. With wisdom, we can act on principle as Daniel did, and trust God with the outcome whether we are promoted or face the lions.

Faithfulness in the Church

Authentic is a buzzword today. It means be yourself, be real. Don’t try to be something you’re not. Along that line, faithfulness in the church involves all believers doing their part, based on their calling, giftedness, role, and maturity. They must be themselves and use the talents and resources God has given them.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul used the body as a metaphor for the Church. We each have a different role in the body. We can’t all be the eye. We can’t all stand before the congregation, but we can all be faithful in whatever place God has put us. Consider some biblical examples.

In 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul told the church at Corinth he was sending Timothy to them, because Timothy was “faithful in the Lord.” In Romans 16, Paul recommended the church receive Phebe because of her dedicated service. For whatever reason, she was traveling to Rome and the Apostle instructed the believers to assist her however she needed. We don’t know what role Phebe served in the church. We don’t know anything else about her, but at the beginning of a long list of commendations and acknowledgements, faithful Phebe topped the list.

Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned second in Romans 16. We know more about them. Paul met them in Corinth during his second missionary journey. They provided him lodging and worked with him as tentmakers. They also traveled with him and assisted his missionary efforts. We know specifically that they mentored Apollos and hosted a church in their home.

Much church work is done behind the scenes. On any particular Sunday, nothing will be said about bathrooms being cleaned, chairs arranged, doors opened, heat or air conditioning turned on—that is, of course, unless these things were not done. Those who serve faithfully behind the scenes do it as an act of service and worship toward God. Those on stage should humbly acknowledged their work is facilitated by the work of others. The faithfulness of everyone on the ministry team (which includes the entire congregation) is necessary to accomplish the task.

Faithfulness in the Community

If you hear a conversation about unfaithfulness, most automatically think of marriage. Faithfulness in marriage is extremely important, but faithfulness applies to all areas of our lives.

In James 1:17, God is described as “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” God is faithful to His Word, His promises, His laws, and His creation, especially humanity. He loves us and is faithful to us.

According to Ephesians 5:1, we are to follow (imitate) God. Paul’s instruction for the Christian was to be like our Father, faithful in all our ways. Serving in the community allows you to demonstrate Jesus’ love, even when you can’t speak about it openly. To be an influencer of unbelievers in your community, you have to be with them. How will they know of your Father and His love if you are not serving and working with them?

Christians need to make the effort to be involved in the public school program. This can mean volunteering, attending sporting events (even when you don’t have a child on the team), and making yourself available to help however is needed.

Civic organizations need Christian influence. Christians care about the community and can find common ground with a variety of organizations and causes. Be a bell ringer during Christmas. Serve at a soup kitchen. Help stock a food bank. Organize a fundraising drive. Coach a little league or soccer team. Whatever is happening in your community, be involved.

As you develop relationships, you will encounter opportunities to speak into people’s lives. And their lives are messy. There are risks, but if you look at the example of Jesus and the early disciples, the risks are necessary. Some may not like your presence, but you cannot allow the wisdom of Christ to be absent from the public square.

You may be asked questions you can’t answer. Don’t offer lame explanations. You don’t have to be the expert on everything. Tell them “I don’t know, but I’ll get back to you.” Then research, talk to your pastor, or seek out another reliable resource. Find good answers to hard questions. Always remember we have the real answer in Jesus Christ. Yet, while salvation is instantaneous, discipleship is a lifelong process.

Christians are called to be salt (Matthew 5:13). Scripture doesn’t explain everything that involves, but we recognize salt preserves, purifies, and flavors. Scripture cautions us to not lose our usefulness. While working in the community, it is imperative to be faithful in all you do, conscious of what you say, how you act, and how you represent Christ. A bad example is often worse than no example.

Christians are also the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). To fulfill this role, your light must be visible. You can’t hide at home or in the church building and shine the light of Christ to the world. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Find a candlestick, get out there, and shine!

Faithfulness Around the World

You may have limited opportunities to be actively involved beyond your local region, especially during the global recovery from COVID-19. If that is the case, find cross-cultural opportunities to support or missionaries who need your financial and prayer support. Ask yourself how your faithfulness can extend to the world.

What about the Internet? Technology provides connections literally around the world. Receive updates from missionaries through social media. Join Facebook groups where missionaries share urgent prayer requests, needs, and news. (Some of these may be secret because of the dangerous area of the world where the missionaries serve.)

Communicate through email. Share a word of encouragement. Keep it short. Don’t forward junk and don’t include them in group emails. Be aware international data plans are often limited, especially in remote locations. Also, be aware some governments monitor everything. Check with your missionaries and ask the best way to communicate with them. You can also check with their sending agency, IM, Inc. (iminc.org) or North American Ministries (fwbnam.com).

Social media connections don’t have to be limited to missionaries. Become friends with other Christians and even unbelievers around the world. Help someone in a distant country practice English, participate in discussion boards, or share ideas and pictures on Pinterest or Instagram.

These groups develop friendships around common interests and hopefully provide opportunities to share your faith. Be especially mindful of the need to be nice. Avoid arguments and needless debate. Also, be careful. Don’t give out any personal information.

You may also have the opportunity to be involved in short-term service projects. Share your expertise in rewarding ways through The Hanna Project (HannaProject.com); Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse (samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child); or WNAC (WNAC.org).

Organize a provision closet drive in conjunction with WNAC to help provide household goods for missionary families. You can also give to the various WNAC scholarship funds that offer educational opportunities to young women. Shine!, another ministry of WNAC, offers blogs, conferences, and resources for teen girls and their moms and youth leaders (ShineFWB.com).

In a parable regarding faithfulness (Luke 12), Jesus told listeners that to whom much is given much is required. By any measure, we all have been blessed. We have the opportunity and responsibility to share the gospel faithfully. Jesus told His disciples to look up and notice the fields are ready for harvest. The harvest is what you see where you are. You don’t have to go anywhere to be involved in the harvest. Just be involved.

Wherever you find yourself, recognize your purpose as a faithful representative of Jesus Christ. You may have a highly visible role or serve behind the scenes. It doesn’t matter. Be faithful! And, be confident, when we are faithful in a little, the Lord will give us opportunities to be faithful over more (Luke 16:10).

About the Writer: Diane Conn is a freelance writer, proofreader, and editor. She lives in Springfield, Tennessee, with her husband Danny and a high-energy yellow Lab named Tuck. Diane is a preacher’s daughter, preacher’s wife, and she loves Dr. Pepper, Braum’s ice cream, and reading on her porch swing. Learn more about Free Will Baptist women’s ministry: wnac.org.