Written by: Sister Edna Ellison
The question is, what does it mean to be a “Faithful” servant? One definition is to remain firm in one’s belief and support. There are so many instances in the Bible which describes a faithful servant. There are also instances where God shows his faithfulness toward us. Matthew 25:27-29 is where Jesus is using the metaphor of financial success to communicate what it means to be His servant. His parable imagines the gifts He will give to His servants on earth—natural ability, skills, resources, money, assets—as things to invest. This is very much why the word “talent” is used in modern English as a reference to God-given abilities. He wants us to use those blessings to deepen our faith in Himself, to increase His glory on the earth, and hopefully to grow His church. What the master in this parable truly values is not the objective value of the money these men earned, but their faithfulness in applying what He has given them. Being told “well done” is a reward unto itself coming from the Son of God. Matthew 24:42-47 says “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” This verse reminds me of Joseph. After his brothers sold him into slavery, Potiphar, a captain of the guard of Pharaoh, purchased him. Joseph was faithful to God. Joseph found favor in the eyes of Potiphar, and he put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything that he owned. The Lord blessed Potiphar’s household because of Joseph. Joseph was a faithful servant not only to God, but also to his slave master Potiphar. He was so faithful to God and to Potiphar, that he refused to sleep with Potiphar’s wife. This action landed him in prison. (Genesis 39). Now the question is “Are you a faithful Servant?” When we choose to accept Jesus as our savior, the choice should be a faithful servant as well. We have to study God’s word. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Learning the truth of God’s word will always help us continue to be a faithful servant.
These are the characteristics of a faithful servant. 1. To be saved, 2. to be available, 3. to be a witness, 4. practice forgiveness, 5. show humility, 6. to help others, 7: show spiritual discipline. God’s word says that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved “(Romans 10:9). After salvation comes studying the word of God and keeping his word in your heart (meaning memorize his word and internalize his word). You will then be transformed into being like Jesus Christ. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) You will be available to whoever needs help. God’s word will come forth when you need to be a witness for him. When you yield to the Holy Spirit and not yield to your flesh you will be able to forgive. Being a faithful servant, you will put others first, therefore you become humble.
Last but not least your nature changes to God’s nature, you are being transformed and because God is love it will be natural to help others. All of these come out of Spiritual discipline. It comes from being in God’s word daily. God speaks to us through his word. Therefore, Holy brothers and sisters who share in the heavenly calling fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. (Hebrews 3:1-2)
Having been filled with the Holy Spirit and becoming a Faithful Servant we acquire the attributes or characteristics of the Holy Spirit which the bible calls the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-24 says” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Being a faithful servant, the fruit of the spirit is visible to believers as well as unbelievers. Paul’s point in these verses is to emphasize the attributes that should be evident in a Christian if the Holy Spirit dwells within someone’s heart, as opposed to those attributes that are evident in a person who is not born from above. An unbeliever can see that there is something different about a person who exemplifies all of the slices of this fruit. Faithfulness is a slice of the fruit of the Spirit. Matthew 24:42 says, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” I would feel terrible if Jesus were to return right on the day that I chose too not be faithful. There are times that we react in the flesh. We sometimes act or react without thinking, or during our transformation process we choose the reaction of the flesh. Paul said in Romans 7:21-23 ” So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me”. We have to die to the flesh. 1 John 3:2 ” Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”. I want to continually remain faithful to be presented to God without spot or wrinkle when he returns.
We are rewarded in so many ways by being faithful servants. Our prayers are answered. Philippians 4:6-7 say’s ‘ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s word also says, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:15) For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:8). Another reward is that we have a personal connection to God. 1st Corinthians 12:12″ Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts forms one body, so it is with Christ”. With Jesus being the second part of the Godhead and we being a part of the body of Christ that’s a personal connection. We are also connected by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” The comforter, He spoke of was and is the Holy Spirit of God. God dwells within the body of the believer. The Holy Spirit is our companion because he lives inside of the believer. John 14:26 says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Last but definitely not least, We have victory over sin. Sin came through the disobedience of Adam. We, man, were separated from God. All people born after that were born in sin because of his disobedience. God made a way back into fellowship with himself by coming to earth in the form of man by the second person of the Godhead, or trinity, Jesus Christ. God required blood sacrifice for sin. The Israelites killed various perfect animals or birds without any blemish as sacrifices for sin. God sent Jesus as the perfect human sacrifice because there was no sin in him. He was fully God, and fully man. God Loved us that much. He told us in John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ” 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 says “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies. Finally, 1st Corinthians 15:57 says “But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. All of these are the rewards of a faithful servant.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I want you to see me as your faithful servant. I want to please you in everything that I do. Please forgive me for my shortcomings. I understand when Paul says, “that I do, I would not, and that I would not do, I do”. I see that as long as I live, I will be at war with my flesh, but you oh God, through your Holy Spirit will convict me and will keep me on the right path. I thank you Lord. Lord Jesus thank you for the opportunity to be a faithful servant. Thank you for your indwelling Holy Spirit. The people that I have mentioned from the old testament did not have the Holy Spirit to keep them or to remind them of your word. They had their belief and trust in almighty God. We received that gift of the Holy Spirit when you gave your life for us on the cross. We want to honor you and glorify you in all that we do. We want to truly be “faithful servants” in your precious name, Jesus we pray. Amen!
Written by Sister Edna Ellison
Grandmothers of Hope Society Ministry