While we live in a world that celebrates jumping from one relationship to the next, faithfulness has taken a backseat to self-interest. And sad to say, the church world appears to be not far behind, as Christians hop from one church, one ministry and one message to the next.
All of that is motivated by the bottom line—what’s in it for me and what’s best for me?
Like honor, faithfulness is big in God’s eyes yet certainly not valued highly in the day and age we live in.
Faithfulness is defined as “adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person, cause or idea; steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant.”
Proverbs 20:6 (KJV) asks it this way: “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?”
First Corinthians 4:2 says, “Also it is required first in a minister that a man be found faithful.”
Proverbs 28:20 promises, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings.”
And Matthew 25:23 (NKJV) says, “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
By the grace of God, 2013 commemorates my 26th anniversary of answering the call to stand by the side of Dr. Morris Cerullo. Have there been times my commitment to the relationship has been tested over a quarter of a century? To say that there haven’t been would be unrealistic.
The key to faithfulness is knowing the will and the calling of God.
Someone once said, "You are either called or you are crazy!" If God called you to serve another man’s ministry, if God called you to marry your spouse, you can always go back to that original calling as the bedrock of your commitment to faithfulness, especially during the trying times. Above all, your commitment to faithfulness is not only to another person, but it is first and foremost to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus for your life.
One of the great statements Jesus ever made calls us to be faithful in serving another person's ministry: “And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” (Luke 16:12, KJV).
While this verse clearly lays down the divine qualification for receiving that which is your own, I have never viewed this Scripture as a license to see my service to Dr. Cerullo as some kind of springboard to my own ministry. Over the years, I have turned down many opportunities I felt could be seen as taking advantage of the platform Dr. Cerullo has entrusted to me. I have simply preferred, under God, to endeavor to remain single-minded and to stay faithful one day at a time to His call and to His servant. I have already received so much more in the process than I could ever have asked or hoped for.
I know, and you can too, that your future will take care of itself as you remain faithful to God, His kingdom and your mentor.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).
God is looking for a few faithful men and women … and I believe you are one! What a reward it will be when you hear these eternal words on that Great Day: “Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter into the joy of thy Lord!”
The above is an excerpt from The Blessing of Serving Another Man’s Ministry: Seven Serving Secrets That Will Sentence You to Success. It is available on Amazon.com starting at $2.99 here. Join Greg Mauro’s Facebook page, and follow Greg on Twitter @gregmauro7.
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