Faithfulness
In looking at the definition of this word which I am using for the subject of this article, I find it to be: "Firm in faith; full of loyalty and fidelity; true and constant in performance of duties or service; exact in attending to commands."
This definition should weigh heavily upon our minds, for faithfulness is required of all who go to heaven. (Rev. 2:10)
Faithful Moses
Moses received a compliment that all of us should crave. The writer of the Hebrew letter said, "And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant." It is worthy of our notice just what was necessary for Moses to be "faithful as a servant." From the study of his life and the definition of the word faithful, we are certain he didn't fail in the performance of duties assigned to him. If he had, he couldn't have been called a "servant" or "faithful."
Moses did not procrastinate in his duties, neither did he exalt himself and assume responsibilities that were not intended for him. Had he done this he would have violated all definitions given of the word faithful and the word servant. He would not have been either "faithful" nor a "servant". Such would have put him in the class of a "boss."
There are many who do things in religion that were never authorized by the king; thus, missing the great compliment paid to Moses. If only the compliment were missed that wouldn't be so bad, but we know the crown of life will be missed.
Faithful Christ
In this same connection the writer declares that Christ was "faithful to him that appointed him." Christ had a definite mission in this world and he performed it. Jesus said, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work." Moses was a faithful servant but Christ was a faithful Son becoming the High Priest. Had Jesus done nothing, or had he done things that God had not appointed him to do, he would not have been faithful. Christ's faithfulness is declared when we read, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross."
With such a touching story before us how could we feel that it would be permissible for us to ignore the gospel, either by neglect or going beyond the commands.
Faithful Apostles
The apostles were faithful to the duties assigned them. They were to preach the plan of salvation and to testify that Christ came from the tomb; hence, the necessity of them being a eye-witness of the Lord after the resurrection. To this special work we know the apostle Paul dedicated his whole life. He said, "I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Accordingly, he could say in the end, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." Had he preached a gospel of his own making (as many preachers do today) the curse of heaven would have rested upon him. Paul sensed his obligation, thus said, "Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel."
Faithful Preachers
The Bible is plain as to the work of a preacher. He is to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." He is not to preach any gospel except that which Paul preached. (Gal. 1:8) This forever settles the kind of preaching that is to be done. He must be confined to the things that are written. Any preacher found guilty of perverting this gospel is not "faithful" nor a "minister" of God.
Not only is it the business of the preacher to proclaim this gospel, but it is his duty to live it. Such expressions as these are found directed to a minister, "Be thou an example to them that believe in word, in manner of life." "Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shall save both thyself and them that hear thee." Heaven will not be the home of the preacher who preaches the truth and then makes no effort to practice it. Such action will take him out of the class of "the faithful."
Faithful Elders And Deacons
Yea, these men are to be faithful. The qualifications of these are definite and not much use of talking about them being such unless in a great degree these qualifications are met. Just as well talk about an early disciple being an apostle who had not seen the Lord after his resurrection.
Like the preacher these men are to be "examples to the flock" They must be willing to do the things the Lord expects of his followers. If the Lord expects his disciples to be faithful in attendance of the services, the officers certainly should be faithful. If the Lord expects the saints to be above reproach in life, so should these men be. If the Lord expects the Christian to study and know his will, so should elders and deacons have knowledge.
The business of the elders is to "direct" and "oversee" His directing is to be in what the Lord has commanded. This is the scope of their rule. They will not do all the work the congregation is to do, but they guide in the work. The apostle expresses it in another place as "feeding the flock." That means to see that the church receives the proper teaching. This implies that the elders must know the truth. Such is the work of faithful elders.
Faithful Saints
The word "saint" includes all, whether elder, deacon, preacher or member. When one becomes a Christian he is a saint, and to please the Lord he must be faithful. He must be faithful in assembling; in worshipping; in studying the Scripture; in teaching; in praying; in giving; and in encouraging the weak. He must be faithful practicing and defending the truth under all circumstances. There can be no compromising with God's Word. He must be careful to not bid God's speed to the false teacher. Saints are spoken of as stewards and Paul says: "Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.
From the cases of Moses, Christ and the apostles we can readily see that they would not have been faithful, had they taken the road of least resistance and had done nothing or even fulfilled only part of their duties. Then why consider the one who sits upon the stool of "do-nothing" a faithful saint? Why consider the one who compromises and goes beyond what God says a faithful person? Well, these are not so considered in God's sight.
Moses would not have been classified as a faithful servant had he engaged in all the wickedness of the nations about him. Neither would he have been faithful had he not taught the Israelites concerning these sins and to shun them. How then can any one reason that he is a faithful servant, even though he has been baptized, if guilty of gambling, swearing, drunkenness and a score of other abominable and questionable things? Watch your life, my brother. Moreover, if Moses had done less or more than God commanded he would not have been "faithful". We should check on what God has authorized us to do. Are we guilty of doing less than what he says? Are we guilty of doing more or doing something different? People should consider the sprinkling for baptism, the instruments of music used in worship, the human institutions (benevolent or missionary), the sponsoring churches, the recreational activities in the church, the denominations, etc, etc. ARE WE FAITHFUL?
Let's conclude with this passage: "Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called Today; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end: while it is said, Today if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For who, when they heard, did provoke? nay, did not all they that came out of Egypt by Moses? And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient? And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief." (Heb. 3:12-19)