Proverbs 13:17
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief:
but a faithful ambassador is health.
What does faithfulness mean? The dictionary says, "The quality of being faithful/dependable". This seems to be an almost lost characteristic of today's people. Not necessarily in the youth of today, but people of all ages. Dependability is not on the list of priorities.
Scripture teaches us that faithfulness is a valued treasure. When you find faithful people, you have found gold that will not fade away. When a husband has a faithful wife, he is rich beyond measure. When a wife has a faithful husband, she is blessed. As parents, if we have children that are faithful we are rich. Also think of the blessedness of an employer that has faithfulness in his employees or a church with faithfulness in its membership. These are so blessed!
But what happens when we put faithfulness on the back burner? It hurts those who depend on us. What if Dad's stopped being faithful to his spouse, family and jobs? Not only does Dad suffer from it but his family will suffer also. If he is not faithful to his spouse, then divorce could come. If he is not faithful to his family, he could lose them to the world and its teachings. If he is not faithful to work, his family will suffer from poverty and starvation. As this is, so is the man who is unfaithful God, church and ministry. If a man isn't faithful to God, how could he be productive in church? If he is not faithful in the church, how could he be fruitful in ministry? If he is not faithful in his walk and devotion to Christ, how could he be beneficial to any of these?
You see, our faithfulness most always requires discipline. Being faithful is not an option in the package of Christianity, but it is one of our major teachings that we should follow.
Look at what scripture teaches about these two scenarios...
Faithfulness brings health...
Proverbs 13:17
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief:
but a faithful ambassador is health.
Unfaithfulness brings pain...
Proverbs 25:19
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
