In Other Words: Find me Faithful. . .

“Mordecai understood that it is not failure that brings despair, but unfaithfulness and idleness.”

~Dorothy Patterson, Editor
Women’s Devotional Bible Devotion:
Service Through Providence

I recently celebrated a birthday; and like most people my age, I no longer count years. Not so much because the numbers is too high, but because the years don't seem to match-up with my successes. While I have succeeded at things that I had never set out to accomplish, I have also failed at many more.

Yet, despair is the very last word I would use to describe my life!

Faithfulness. Now there's a word I might use.

And let me think . . . idleness. Hmmmmm. . . . Here's a word with which I'm really not familiar. Perhaps Mordecai was on to something here. . .

I don't write this post to flatter myself. Not at all. I write because there is much truth to be found in Ms. Patterson's quote. It is not physical or earthy accomplishments -- or the lack of them -- that determine our state of mind. And I think most of us would have to agree: Faithfulness is a good thing. Faithfulness (i.e., faithfulness to God, our Creator) is a sustaining force that overcomes any physical or earthly pursuit.

Unfaithfulness in even its slightest form is hateful to God. Unfaithfulness often stems from unbelief; and unbelief destroys the soul. It hinders God's work in us. Which, of course, leads to despair!

But what is faithfulness to God?

Some think of faithfulness as simply living without lust and getting victory over sinful habits. Others think it means being constant in Bible reading, prayer, giving of tithes, and church attendance. Still others think of it as going about doing good, or keeping pure by avoiding all that is evil and wicked. But these things can never make us faithful to God. Never. These are works.

". . . not by works, so that no one can boast."

~ Ephesians 2:9

These are wonderful things indeed and are certainly commanded in God's Word - and we will do them if we are faithful. But they in themselves are not the essence of faithfulness. You see, faithfulness to God is impossible unless it springs from a trusting, believing heart!

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."
~Hebrews 3:12

This verse is not written to unbelievers - but to Believers! The writer of Hebrews was saying, "You! Christians: Beware. Watch out. Make sure you don't have an evil heart of unbelief."

Unbelief must have been a problem back in 80 A.D. And unbelief is most definitely a problem in 2009 A.D. We are surrounded on all sides by unbelief in the world today. Our culture is steeped in skepticism and unbelief. And you'd be lying to yourself to think that unbelief does not also live in Christian circles.

I want to be the kind of Christian who does not need the reminder of Hebrews 3:12. I want to be the kind of Christian who believes God's Word is sufficient for every human need. I want to be the kind of Christian who believes that God's Word will guide and sustain me regardless of the future. I want to be the kind of Christian whose faithfulness knows nothing of idleness - neither idle talk nor idle thoughts. I want to be found faithful -- even in my failures.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
~ Romans 10:17

“Mordecai understood that it is not failure that brings despair, but unfaithfulness and idleness.”

And I understand that my faithfulness to God's Word
is my greatest insurance policy against despair. . . .

~ Esthermay V. Bentley-Goossen
© 2009 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

This installment of InOtherWords is hosted by Patricia on her blog, Typing One Handed.