Faithfulness

This is part 4 of a 5 part series on the subject of maturity. The New Testament identifies maturity as the personal growth goal of Christian discipleship.

Here is a review of the marks we’ve briefly addressed so far:

Mark One – Understanding / Wisdom / Discernment
Mark Two – Discipline / Self-control / Delayed Gratification
Mark Three – Competence / Diligence / Productivity

The forth mark of Christian maturity can be described using words like responsibility, dependability and faithfulness. I hope you can identify a progression here. After all, we are talking about growth! The movement is actually in two different directions – deeper and higher.

We are moving more and more into heart issues as this becomes more personal. We are also getting more and more relational. Spiritual growth is not only intensely personal but highly relational in nature.

We’ve already acknowledged the significant interrelation between the different marks and there is certainly a lot of overlap between this mark and the last one (between competence and responsibility for example), but you will notice that as we mature it becomes more and more about our relationships; that is to say, more and more about others and less about us. It is hard to overstate the significance of this dynamic of spiritual growth.

Another word that could be used for this forth mark is the word ‘accountability’, but I think my favorite word for getting at the heart of the concept that we want to focus on here is the word ‘faithfulness’. The reason I personally prefer this word is because it leans so heavily towards the relational aspect of the progression toward maturity.

Perhaps the best way to illustrate this is to point to the adolescent years of our natural development. The key issue faced during those years is the issue of rebellion. Young people struggle with the reality that they cannot live their lives unto themselves. Faithfulness places strong value upon others and particularly upon God.

The biblical world view is that we are made by God, we belong to Him and everything we have comes from Him and ultimately belongs to Him as well. He entrusts us with life and time and everything in it. We are accountable to Him and we should be both grateful and faithful. Those two concepts also go together.

The concept of ‘stewardship’ in the parables of Christ is significant. You can check it out in Matthew 25 in what is traditionally referred to as the parable of the talents … “Well done good and faithful servant…”

Paul picks up on this theme as he writes to the Corinthians …

“This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” 1Cor 4:1-5

And here is what Peter has to say about it…

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1Pet 4:10

And so this idea of being responsible or dependable, or better yet – faithful - takes us a step higher in our journey toward maturity in Christ.