A story from the word of God has always left quite an impression upon me. Naomi has lost her husband and two sons and her daughters-in-law are standing before her as she says:
Ruth 1:11-18
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
What a powerful display of faithfulness. Even when she was told to leave, Ruth made the choice to stay and be faithful. I think we can all agree that faithfulness is a needed element in every area of our lives:
But the area of life that demands the most faithfulness is our relationship and walk with God. If we cannot be faithful to God then we cannot be faithful in anything. As we develop a lifestyle of faithfulness to God, the Lord is able to foster faithfulness in every area of our lives.
In the parable of the talents, the master says these words: “you have been faithful over a few things, therefore I will make you ruler over many things”. Sadly, some people cannot be faithful over the little things today, but they are still expecting the big responsibilities to come their way. Faithfulness is still relevant in our lives and it must be relevant in our relationship with the Lord. When we get to heaven we will not get there on our looks and abilities, but we will enter into that Holy place because of a life of faithfulness.
Titus 3:3-8
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
There are going to be days that we don’t feel like it. There are going to be days that everything is going down the tubes. There are going to be days that we only have one last nerve for someone to get on. There are going to be days that we are tempted to just get back in bed and pull the covers over our heads. Faithfulness when everything is going well and there are no roadblocks is easy, but to truly be faithful I have to be faithful no matter what is or what isn’t going on. Without faithfulness to God in this life we can never expect to share in the life that is to come. Faithfulness to God is a prerequisite to making heaven our home.
Make the choices you need to make to be faithful. You, your family and anyone that is watching your life will be blessed because of it.
Pastor Hoffman
Ruth 1:11-18
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
What a powerful display of faithfulness. Even when she was told to leave, Ruth made the choice to stay and be faithful. I think we can all agree that faithfulness is a needed element in every area of our lives:
- Work – If you are not faithful to your job, they will find someone who will be.
- Marriage – If you are not faithful to your spouse and lose relationship trust, you could lose your marriage.
- Family – If your kids or other family members lose belief in who you are it creates major headaches in those you’re mentoring.
- Bills – If you are not being faithful with your responsibilities it tarnishes your credit and name.
But the area of life that demands the most faithfulness is our relationship and walk with God. If we cannot be faithful to God then we cannot be faithful in anything. As we develop a lifestyle of faithfulness to God, the Lord is able to foster faithfulness in every area of our lives.
In the parable of the talents, the master says these words: “you have been faithful over a few things, therefore I will make you ruler over many things”. Sadly, some people cannot be faithful over the little things today, but they are still expecting the big responsibilities to come their way. Faithfulness is still relevant in our lives and it must be relevant in our relationship with the Lord. When we get to heaven we will not get there on our looks and abilities, but we will enter into that Holy place because of a life of faithfulness.
Titus 3:3-8
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
There are going to be days that we don’t feel like it. There are going to be days that everything is going down the tubes. There are going to be days that we only have one last nerve for someone to get on. There are going to be days that we are tempted to just get back in bed and pull the covers over our heads. Faithfulness when everything is going well and there are no roadblocks is easy, but to truly be faithful I have to be faithful no matter what is or what isn’t going on. Without faithfulness to God in this life we can never expect to share in the life that is to come. Faithfulness to God is a prerequisite to making heaven our home.
Make the choices you need to make to be faithful. You, your family and anyone that is watching your life will be blessed because of it.
Pastor Hoffman
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