Question 1

Why should I be faithful?

Accepted Answer

2 Timothy 2:11-13This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.We should be faithful because faithfulness is a sign of lasting love. Despite our sins, God loves and remains faithful to us. We should model the love of Christ to others and remain faithful to them, even when they fail us.1 Samuel 17:45-51David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. . . . This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.Acts 4:13-22The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves. “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.We should be faithful because God chooses to accomplish great deeds through faithful people.Psalm 1:1-3Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.We should be faithful because faithfulness determines the quality of our character, which affects the quality of our lives, bringing vitality and healthy productivity.Proverbs 3:3-4Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.We should be faithful because faithfulness is an essential characteristic of a good reputation that others can trust. During times of stress, conflict, and other problems, a person’s reputation can be the key to a positive outcome.Hebrews 3:14If we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.Revelation 2:10“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. . . . if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.”We should be faithful because faithfulness brings eternal rewards.

Question 2

How do I develop faithfulness?

Accepted Answer

Luke 16:10“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”Faithfulness is a way of life. Exercising faithfulness in “little things” strengthens us for being faithful in greater ones. Doing what we said we would do when we said we would do it, intentionally spending time with friends and family, and supporting people even during their bad days are everyday ways we can be faithful, and they will prepare us for life’s greater challenges.2 Kings 12:15No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.Daniel 6:4Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.We can cultivate faithfulness by being honest and trustworthy.Deuteronomy 28:9“If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do.”We can cultivate faithfulness by obeying God’s Word, which teaches us to imitate God’s faithfulness.1 Timothy 3:12A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well.We can cultivate faithfulness in our relationships by keeping our promises and commitments, no matter what.Proverbs 3:3-4Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.We can cultivate faithfulness through loyalty and kindness.

Question 3

Is God faithful?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 7:9“Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.”Psalm 89:5All heaven will praise your great wonders, Lord; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.Psalm 100:5The Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.2 Thessalonians 3:3The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.God is completely faithful. His faithfulness is so great it makes the angels sing!

Question 4

In what ways is God faithful to me?

Accepted Answer

Luke 1:68-70“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.”God is faithful to us by faithfully fulfilling his promise to send a Savior.Psalm 4:3You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him.Psalm 143:1Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.God is faithful to us by faithfully answering when we call on him. His answers aren’t always what we want to hear, but they are always what is best for us.1 Corinthians 1:9God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.God is faithful to us by faithfully doing what he says he will do. As we read the Bible, we will discover many promises that God has already fulfilled. When we read promises yet to be fulfilled, we can count on God’s faithfulness to fulfill them because he always does just what he says.Psalm 103:17-18The love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!Matthew 28:20“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”2 Thessalonians 3:3The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.An untrustworthy and unpredictable leader is terribly frustrating because no one knows what he or she will do next, and planning ahead is impossible. Those who trust God to lead them have a faithful leader—they know what the future looks like and have an assurance of peace and security. God is not subject to whims or unpredictable mood swings. Our greatest hope is in God’s unchanging character and his unwavering love for us. We can count on God to remain faithful each day, guarding us and guiding us as we follow him.

Question 5

What are the rewards of faithfulness?

Accepted Answer

2 Samuel 22:25-27The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence. “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.”Faithful people know God more deeply and more fully experience and appreciate his grace.Numbers 14:24“My servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land.”Matthew 24:45-47“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.”Luke 19:17“‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’”Faithfulness in small matters leads to greater opportunities and responsibilities.2 Kings 12:15No accounting of this money was required from the construction supervisors, because they were honest and trustworthy men.Faithfulness builds a reputation of being trustworthy.1 Corinthians 3:11-15No one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.While all who believe in Jesus Christ will inherit eternal life, additional rewards and blessings will be given based on our obedience in this life. Those who are faithful with what they are given will receive even greater blessings.Proverbs 2:8He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.God takes special care of those who honor him with a faithful life.Revelation 2:10“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. . . . if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.”Staying faithful to Christ, even under extreme pressure, will bring great reward in our eternal life to come.

Question 6

How does my faithfulness affect others?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 6:6-7“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”Isaiah 38:19Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.Hebrews 10:23-25Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.The privilege and obligation of each generation is to reveal to the next the faithfulness of our God. We can leave a rich heritage by building this awareness in the minds of our children and grandchildren. This is of far more lasting value than any other kind of inheritance we might leave behind. Faithfulness to our brothers and sisters in Christ is another way we can grow one another in faithfulness to God. As we gather with other believers, we can strengthen and encourage ourselves and others to live faithfully.

Question 7

How should I handle betrayal—when someone hasn’t been faithful to me?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 5:43-44“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”2 Timothy 2:13If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.When others are unfaithful to us, we should imitate Christ and remain faithful. Otherwise, we become as faithless as they are. Even in extreme situations such as adultery and abuse when separation from the unfaithful person is necessary, we should love that person and pray him or her.

Question 8

Why should leaders be faithful to their followers?

Accepted Answer

Nehemiah 7:2I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.1 Corinthians 4:2Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.Faithfulness or trustworthiness is essential for all who are in positions of responsibility, where others are depending on them.