Poul Madsen
WITH the years we advance in age, but the passage of time gives no automatic growth in the kingdom of God for with Him faithfulness is more important than age. Whether we can have more committed to us is dependent upon whether we have been faithful stewards with what we already have from God. Faithfulness is a rare quality. There are many well-meaning and enthusiastic Christians but there sometimes appears to be rather a scarcity of truly faithful men and women. It is worthwhile to consider some features of faithfulness.
1. Endurance of Love
Faithfulness has to do with endurance, and both spring from love, for it is love that never fails. If we are unfaithful it is because we do not really love the one concerned, for how can we give up when it is stated that love never does so.
Love which gives up exposes itself as being false. It has never been love for had it been it would never have failed. It must have been self-love in disguise, using the beautiful language but lacking the reality. Similarly, if faithfulness fails, it exposes itself; it has never been the real thing, for faithfulness which only lasts for a time, never was even faithfulness while it lasted, but disguised self-interest. You cannot love up to 90% and you cannot be 90% faithful. Enduring love and faithfulness are absolutes and know no limits. A man who leaves his wife after twenty years of marriage has not loved that wife for twenty years and then stopped loving her; he has never really loved her.
We know that in the case of the Lord we are told that this is His very nature: "He remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). The reason why He is faithful to us and never gives us up is not found in us, but exclusively in Him -- that is what He is like. We ought not to demand faithfulness in others as a condition for showing it ourselves, nor excuse ourselves if we find it lacking in others. It is easy to think, 'Well, if he is unfaithful to me, why should I be faithful to him?' but this is not a Christian attitude, since he may find the fount of faithfulness in our Lord Jesus Christ. When we look at Him, the inclination to give up disappears, and we are freshly inspired to endure.
2. Unsensational
But what does a Christian accomplish by his faithfulness? This is really beside the point, for the most important thing is not what we accomplish, but what we are. Many of the most faithful people do not seem to have much success to boast about. Those who aspire to be faithful must be prepared for a life hidden with Christ. For example, the faithful intercessors may find their work hidden from the public eye. But just wait until the Day of the Lord comes! It will be then, and perhaps not until then, that the Lord can give His verdict: "Well done, good and faithful servant". It could be that some who seemed most successful and received great publicity will hardly be noticed then.
It is especially important that we should be faithful in small things -- 'faithful in that which is least'. It is a joy to think of the modest Christians who do not advertise themselves or their works -- do not even publish a magazine, as I do -- but who are simply faithful, enduring, loving and self-forgetful, who can always be counted on. These are the pillars of the Church; the vessels unto honour in God's House.
There is something unsensational in faithfulness: it does not arrest attention. But God notices it. We have no means of knowing whether He takes much notice of sensational events. Faithfulness continues to burn steadily rather than flaring up at intervals and then dying down. There can be a lot of difference between just beginning something and then turning to something else, and carrying a matter right on to its completion. Of Moses it is said that he was faithful in all God's house as a servant and of Christ that He was faithful as a Son over His house. It appears that nothing greater can be said of any person than that he or she was faithful to the end.
3. Personal
Faithfulness is a personal quality; we cannot give it to others or receive it from them. It does not attach much value to crowds but focuses on the individual. So does God. In the crowd, personal values can easily disappear, as in mass Christianity or mass movements, but on the great Day, when we will appear before the [61/62]judgment seat of Christ, we will do so one by one, with each giving an account of himself.
In any case we should not complain if faithfulness is lacking in others, for how could we learn patience and love without the occasions caused by those who create problems for us? Without love, faithfulness changes into stubborn fanaticism or obstinacy. Faithfulness is not that; nor is it barrenly clinging to tradition. It is essentially faithfulness to the Lord Himself. It involves close contact with Him and walking in the light continually. Although it involves what may have to be repeated day by day with regularity, it will be saved from what is mechanical or just repetitious by heart-exercise to grasp and enjoy the privilege of service. Only nearness to the Lord can deliver us from the dullness of mere repetition and impart freshness by reason of our relationship with Him. Such a walk will deliver us from unfaithfulness and renew in us His own patience which alone is sufficient for the daily challenge.
This keeps us humble, for who dare say to the Lord: 'You know how faithful I am!' Yet He will never discourage us, but always supply enough grace for us to continue. Faithfulness is not a performance but a fruit of the Spirit. With the crucified Lord in view, who can sink into apathy?
4. Satisfying
There is no satisfaction for the soul in what is occasional or spasmodic. Faithfulness, however, brings joy and contentment. It is true that it requires self-discipline, not in a legalistic way but rather as the fruit of God's grace by the gospel. As we concentrate on the Lord, we find that we can do more than we naturally could. To endure to the end is not impossible; indeed the Lord who requires it is the One who makes it possible -- even to the weakest. He does this when we avoid riveting our attention on our own efforts after faithfulness and concentrate on the crucified Christ without being distracted. He then works out in us everything we long for, including faithfulness and self-denying love. All the promises of God, including those made to those who are found faithful, have their 'Yea' only in Him.
Although faithfulness has to do with self-discipline, this must not be confused with self-torture. A person can change himself into an ascetic in the power of the flesh, but this does not necessarily mean faithfulness to Christ. No-one was more enduring and faithful than Paul, but he enjoyed his meals and, like the first Christians, took them with joy and gladness. Even when he exhorted Timothy to endure and be faithful, he emphasised at the same time that "every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer" (1 Timothy 4:4-5). Ascetism and other forms of self-torture spring from concentration on oneself and can become a religious form of self-centredness. If we concentrate on Christ, we shall be glad and grateful for everything that God gives Us, enjoying it and sanctifying it by prayer.
Gratitude is closely connected with evangelical faithfulness. A grateful person may well fast now and again, but he should not want others to know that he does, nor talk about it, for that could attract attention to himself and cause weak souls to admire him. He therefore anoints his head and appears especially happy, so that no-one would guess that, influenced by gratitude and love to his Saviour, he has omitted a meal or two in order to concentrate on prayer.
5. Expectation
Faithfulness has a close connection with expectation. We do not endure in a vacuum; we endure because we expect to see the Lord in glory, with the fulfilment of all that He has promised. We are stewards of what He gives us "until He comes". That is what makes us faithful. He is coming soon! Faithfulness looks back to His finished work, but at the same time it looks on to His Second Coming. It rests in salvation now enjoyed and yet it stands on tip-toe in eager expectation of the full manifestation of that salvation in the redemption of the body and the renewal of creation. How can those so employed be anything less than faithful?
6. Vision Rather than Visions
As I close, I am conscious that some may find the idea of faithfulness not nearly exciting enough. They may ask, 'Where are the thrills and the visions and the ecstasies?' They may indeed refer me to Paul's declaration that he was faithful to his heavenly vision. It is true that he was so faithful, and we must be the same, whatever the cost, but we have to note very carefully that the 'vision' to which he was so faithful was the vision of the Lord Jesus Himself.
So it was not a vision of this or that as projects or programmes but a unique sight of the glorious Christ which constituted Paul's "heavenly vision". [62/63] None of us have, or will have here in this life, such a vision, for Paul was unique as the last to whom the risen Christ appeared (1 Corinthians 15:8). One day we too will see Christ in glory but meanwhile we ought to be rather careful in speaking glibly of 'our vision'. Those who use the phrase, usually mean that they have been gripped by a conviction. It may be right, but it could be wrong. It may express itself in a programme and, strangely enough, it is easier to make Christians enthusiastic about this kind of vision than to get them concentrated on Christ Himself. The Lord can be pushed into the background while we pay attention to the programme which we call 'our vision', and in this way faithfulness is directed towards some activity or accomplishment which becomes so important to us. Is Christ not Lord? Can He not modify or alter what we expected to do for Him or the manner in which we expected to do it? Above all, we must be faithful to Him.
Paul testified that he pressed on toward the mark because he had been 'gripped' (apprehended) by Christ Himself. He is our heavenly vision. To Him we would be found faithful. He has called us and chosen us; may He also enable us to be faithful. Those who keep their eyes on Him will always be radiant and will never be ashamed.
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