Love and Faithfulness

S. "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man" (Proverbs 3:3-4, NIV)

O. These verses speak of two non-negotiable aspects in our Christian life…love and faithfulness. How good it is to know how we are to live in this world around us. How good it is know that when we do the things of God, He does reward us. But why these two?

First of all, love is the bedrock quality of our lives. Christ came to the earth as an act of love and we are to live like him. John 3: 16 tells us that God "so loved the world"… and so God demonstrated His love to us and we too should demonstrate love to those around us. Second, faithfulness is a must for our lives as Christians. I must first and foremost be faithful to God and then to my family and then to those around me. Faithfulness is a quality that is being lost in many ways in our society. We don't show faithfulness or loyalty to companies we work for…athlete's don't so faithfulness or loyalty to a team…and people don't show loyalty or faithfulness to their church. This is not a blank statement, but I believe we are seeing the effects of a lack of faithfulness in the church. And when the average person who is looking for Christ sees this unfaithfulness to God and the church, I believe they are saying, "Why would I want to be part of something they are not faithfully to?"

A. So as I have been writing this, I have been reflecting on my own life. Do I show love…I mean the kind of love that will point people to Jesus Christ! Am I showing this love to my family, to my wife, to my sons, to my father and sister? Am I showing this kind of sacrificial love to my people in my congregation…to my friends and people around me? And what about faithfulness? How do I measure up in this area with the same people and circumstances. I guess the application for me to some reflection on my own life and making sure I am walking in the ways that are pleasing to God and building up of those around me.

P. Lord, I pray that today I would be found full of love and faithfulness. Let it begin with you and extend to my family and all those around me. May my life reflect you Love and Faithfulness today and everyday. I love you Lord, Amen.