Faithfulness

We hear David in his day saying:

Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth;

For the faithfial fail ftom among the children of men

(Psalm 12:1).

So that even in such a day of revival as that of David the faithful were few. The word 'faithful' is used fnst in Scripture of Moses, of whom God said' "He is faithful in all Mine house" (Num. 12:7), a true type of the Lord who was yet to come (Heb. 3:2,5). Though Moses was a meek man he was not a weak man. He was firm in his adherence to what the Lord commanded him. No human mind was allowed to be projected into the making of the Tabernacle or any of the vessels thereof, and he delivered the work "as the LORD cdmmanded Moses".

Paul says, "It is requieed in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2). The fitness and force of the apostle's words are seen at once when we remember that a steward is one who handles the things of another. Paul was one of God's stewards and there was none more faithful than he. Timothy too was faithful. Paul called him, "my beloved and faithful child in the Lord" (1 Cor. 4:17). Tychicus is called, "the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord" ~ph. 6:21). Epaphras is decribed as "Our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ" (Col. 1:7). Faithful Tychicus is again mentioned in Colossians 4:7, and Onesimus is called "the faithful and beloved brother" (verse 9). Peter calls Silvanus, an early fellow-worker with Paul, "our (RYM) faithful brother". And the Lord calls Antipas, "My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you" ~ev. 2:13). These and many faithful ones were of that glorious band of men, and women too, who formed the backbone of divine testimony in the early days, such as remained firm in their allegiance to their Lord, loyal disciples who followed on through thick and thin, in evil and good report, and neither were turned aside by the praises or frowns of men. It was anticipated by Paul that such faithful men would continue even though they were few, for he said:

The things which thou hast heardfrom me among

many wftnesses, the same commit thou tofaithfi~l men, who shall be able to teach others also (2 Ti~ 2:2).

f Miller

Extracted from Neeaed Truth 1953

unknown | Aug 1993
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