The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

Written By Melvin Jones

So far we've examined six aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit. Each time, the goal has been to see what these characteristics look like in the believer's life. We are going to do that again with the next characteristic or aspect of faithfulness. As before, we will try to determine just what is meant by faithfulness. Is it the same as loyalty? Or is faithfulness much more personal, more intimate than simple loyalty?

David is described as being faithful (1 Samuel 22:14). And of course, God is described over and over again as faithful despite our lack of faithfulness. Paul tells Timothy to entrust his teachings to faithful men (2 Timothy 2:2). And Paul himself was pleased that God considered him faithful for service (1 Timothy 1:12).

In the New Testament, the Greek word used in these verses is PISTON (not to be confused with a member of the Detroit basketball team) and is generally translated as faith. In several places, Luke 16:12, for instance, it is translated as trustworthy. This is the same sense the word was used in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy.

I would suggest then, that this particular fruit of the Spirit could be considered the same as trustworthiness; perhaps even a sense of consistency (in doing good and meeting obligations).

If I am faithful, my word is my bond. If I say I am going to do something, then I do it. Likewise, if I say I am not going to do something, then I can be trusted not to do it.

As with the rest of the characteristics of the fruit, this quality doesn't depend on circumstance, environment, the people around me, or the way I feel. It depends only on my willingness to have God work in my life to develop discipline (I've started memorizing Psalm 119 a bunch of times; I can still get no further than verse 20). In that respect, I have not been experiencing faithfulness.

As with the rest of the characteristics (love, joy peace, etc.), faithfulness is the result of God working in our lives to conform us to the image of His son. It is not simply a matter of self-discipline, but more a matter of God establishing a desire for discipline in us, and then empowering us to develop that discipline.

This characteristic, this quality of the fruit, enables us to be men and women who can effectively spread the Gospel, increase the effectiveness of the local church, and make Christianity more than a philosophy, turning it into that which can change the lives of others and yes, even change the world as it did under the rule of the Roman Empire, an organization that was very hostile to Christians.