Fruits of the Spirit: Faithfulness

I’m sure there are lots of definitions of faithfulness, some extremely complicated and some extremely simply. I prefer my definitions simple. My definition of faithfulness is based on four ideas::

 

 

We can twist and torque those simple concepts all out of proportion, but that is, I firmly believe, the essence of God’s message to us. We may not do it every day and perhaps not all the time, but enough of the time that we feel better and notice that the world is a better place – even if only a little bit better in just a very small corner of the world.

 

Faithfulness enables us to be brave, to do things we didn’t think ourselves capable of, because we know we are doing God’s work and God’s will. Faithfulness enables us to be stronger than we thought we could be because we know we are doing God’s work and God’s will.

 

Faithfulness enables us to dream big because we know we are doing God’s work and God’s will. Faithfulness enables us to be more generous than we thought we could be…well you know the rest. Faithfulness at its most basic is love, love for God and love for others. Faithfulness is trusting in God so much that we allow ourselves to be conduits for God’s love – like windows letting God’s light shine through us.

 

Stronger than you seem,

Smarter than you think,

And loved more than you will ever know.”

 

Those wise Disney writers weren’t talking about faithfulness, but they could have been.

 

-Carolyn Hayes

Director of Children and Young Family Ministries