Where Have They
Gone?
Help,
LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children
of men.
Psalm 12:1
The
Psalmist wrote this thousands of years ago, and yet it seems like he could have
written it yesterday. As we look around today, we ask the same question. It
seems that those that are truly faithful are lacking today.
The
world has such an attraction that it pulls at God’s people. Our faithfulness is
hindered because we find other things more attractive or more interesting or
more important. This is nothing new, but we certainly see the effects more and
more. Paul mentions this in 2Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me,
having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to
Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.” Paul needed faithful men to assist him, and
there certainly were some, but Demas was not one of them.
God
has always been seeking those that would be faithful. He has certainly shown
Himself to be faithful on our behalf, and He promises to make us faithful if we
let Him. My faithfulness is not dependent on someone else’s faithfulness or
lack thereof. 1Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto
the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also
will do it.”
Faithfulness
is a trait of maturity. As we allow God to work in our lives, which brings about
spiritual maturity, one of the things He works in us is faithfulness.
1Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found
faithful.” 1Timothy 1:12 “And I
thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful,
putting me into the ministry;”
2Timothy 2:2 “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many
witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach
others also.” I am faithful because He is faithful, and because my own personal
spiritual growth leads to personal faithfulness.
Psalms 119:90 “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou
hast established the earth, and it abideth.” Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast
the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that
promised;)” It is His faithfulness that enables us to be faithful. We have
nothing to boast of. So what then is our motivation to be faithful to Him? His
faithfulness to us. God has been more than faithful to us, more than we could
ever begin to imagine. And yet, in return, we put many other things before Him.
Oh,
that God would find us faithful to Him every day. That we would seek His
faithfulness to be made real in our lives. In this way we can show His
faithfulness to all generations.
