Be Faithful. . . I will Give the Crown of Life
Introduction. Being faithful to God is both an exciting challenge and a wise choice. Striving to once again reflect the divine nature is one of the greatest and most rewarding quests open to us (2Pet. 1:3-5). Since all His laws are “for our good always” (Deut 6:24), our obedience will improve the quality and enjoyment of every facet of life. With deep respect for God’s will, we always find sweet success.
Daily events often force difficult decisions that can bring life altering consequences whether we are prepared or not. Some of our most painful memories center on failure to make a wise decision while the most pleasant things we can remember are the wise decisions that brought success.
God wants us to succeed! In our early life He commands us to honor our parents so we can live long in the land (Deut. 5:16), because by using their wisdom we can avoid making bad decisions that could cost us our life. His commands were given to guide us into a successful life. He desires that our wise decisions will create good memories of duties shouldered and obligations fulfilled.
This is the premium to being faithful to God! We can seek to incorporate the principles of the Sermon on the Mount, the wisdom of the Proverbs, and the Fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). We can work diligently to “add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience brotherly kindness and love” (2Pet. 1:3-11) and “put off the old and put on the new” (Eph. 4:17-6:24). As we thus sow to the spirit, we will not only reap eternal life, but many other blessings as well.
When we are faithful to all God’s will we can shoulder each new duty as it opens to us and have no regrets. Fathers learn to “nurture and chasten their children in the admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6:4), and young men trained early to lead their homes in sacrificial love, cherishing and honoring their wives as the weaker vessel (Eph. 5:22-33; 1Pet. 3:7). Young women are “admonished to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” Thus they become the true children of their mother Sarah (Titus 2:4-5; 1Pet. 3:1-6).
As God’s faithful children, we offer supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings (1Tim. 2:1-2) and receive because we ask (Jas. 1:5-6; 4:2-3; 5:16-17). We read the sacred writings and become wise unto salvation (2Tim. 3:14-17). We work heartily for our employer as unto the Lord (Eph. 6:5-8; Col. 3:22) and find success. We obey all laws of men for the Lord’s sake (1Pet. 2:13-16) and gain peace and security.
In our relationships with friends, brothers and strangers we do to others as we would have them do to us (Mt 7:12). Being faithful till death forces us seek to be good stewards of our gifts (1Pet. 4:10-11) and use the talents God has given us to trade and make gain for Him (Mt. 25:14-30).
With all these things being done we become a vessel unto honor seen by God as gold or silver and become a blessing to the church (2Tim. 2:21). As we read the New Testament letters it is obvious that faithful brethren are the backbone of strong churches. Paul praised those in Thessalonica for their faith, hope and love (1Th. 1:3), and the Philippians for their sacrifices. Jesus rebuked Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea for not being faithful. He also praised Smyrna and Laodicea for their faithful submission (Rev 2-3).
Conclusion. The point is clear! If we want to look back on our life with satisfaction and stand faithful before God, we must make good use of our time and opportunities. Life is short and decisions made now have eternal consequences. The quality of Christians is the quality of the church. Diligent husbands, wives, parents, citizens and employees are prepared to be diligent Christians, and the fruits of these things is sweet indeed. In the end they will bring “the crown of life.”
Daily events often force difficult decisions that can bring life altering consequences whether we are prepared or not. Some of our most painful memories center on failure to make a wise decision while the most pleasant things we can remember are the wise decisions that brought success.
God wants us to succeed! In our early life He commands us to honor our parents so we can live long in the land (Deut. 5:16), because by using their wisdom we can avoid making bad decisions that could cost us our life. His commands were given to guide us into a successful life. He desires that our wise decisions will create good memories of duties shouldered and obligations fulfilled.
- “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.” (Eccl. 11:9).
This is the premium to being faithful to God! We can seek to incorporate the principles of the Sermon on the Mount, the wisdom of the Proverbs, and the Fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). We can work diligently to “add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience brotherly kindness and love” (2Pet. 1:3-11) and “put off the old and put on the new” (Eph. 4:17-6:24). As we thus sow to the spirit, we will not only reap eternal life, but many other blessings as well.
When we are faithful to all God’s will we can shoulder each new duty as it opens to us and have no regrets. Fathers learn to “nurture and chasten their children in the admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6:4), and young men trained early to lead their homes in sacrificial love, cherishing and honoring their wives as the weaker vessel (Eph. 5:22-33; 1Pet. 3:7). Young women are “admonished to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” Thus they become the true children of their mother Sarah (Titus 2:4-5; 1Pet. 3:1-6).
As God’s faithful children, we offer supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings (1Tim. 2:1-2) and receive because we ask (Jas. 1:5-6; 4:2-3; 5:16-17). We read the sacred writings and become wise unto salvation (2Tim. 3:14-17). We work heartily for our employer as unto the Lord (Eph. 6:5-8; Col. 3:22) and find success. We obey all laws of men for the Lord’s sake (1Pet. 2:13-16) and gain peace and security.
In our relationships with friends, brothers and strangers we do to others as we would have them do to us (Mt 7:12). Being faithful till death forces us seek to be good stewards of our gifts (1Pet. 4:10-11) and use the talents God has given us to trade and make gain for Him (Mt. 25:14-30).
With all these things being done we become a vessel unto honor seen by God as gold or silver and become a blessing to the church (2Tim. 2:21). As we read the New Testament letters it is obvious that faithful brethren are the backbone of strong churches. Paul praised those in Thessalonica for their faith, hope and love (1Th. 1:3), and the Philippians for their sacrifices. Jesus rebuked Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea for not being faithful. He also praised Smyrna and Laodicea for their faithful submission (Rev 2-3).
Conclusion. The point is clear! If we want to look back on our life with satisfaction and stand faithful before God, we must make good use of our time and opportunities. Life is short and decisions made now have eternal consequences. The quality of Christians is the quality of the church. Diligent husbands, wives, parents, citizens and employees are prepared to be diligent Christians, and the fruits of these things is sweet indeed. In the end they will bring “the crown of life.”