1Cor 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

I. A Faithful saint loyally follows through on commands (spirit & letter), beliefs, responsibilities and promises to the glory of God.

Definition of Faithfulness 1. Adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person, a cause, or an idea; loyal. 2. Worthy of trust or belief; reliable. 3. Consistent with truth or actuality 

A. Founded in Faith & Fear of GodNeh 7:2 charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
2Ch 19:9  And he charged them, saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect/loyal heart.
Nourished by mercy 1Cor 7:25…yet I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.    Gal 5:22 HS fruit
Full of Faith Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Delight to GodMt 25:21 Well done, good & faithful servant: faithful over a few I will make you ruler over many enter you into the joy of your lord.

B. Basis of Blessings & Ministry 1Sam 26:23  May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness…
Ps 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
Pr 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent. Pr 29:14 KJV
Ps 31:23  O love the LORD, all you his saints: for the LORD preserves the faithful, and plentifully rewards the proud doer.
Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which you shall suffer…be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.
Mt 24:45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made rule…
1Cor 4:17  Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways
Lk 19:17 he said to him, Well done, you good servant: because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.

II. We’re Faithful with our TIME when we believe: Our Time Isn’t Our Own & We Walk in Wisdom (objectives)

Time is the interval during which we can sin (indulge our desires) or get blessed (invest in our priorities).
1Cor 6:19 …you are not your own 20  For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

III. We’re Faithful with our TREASURE when we believe: We Don’t Own Anything-God Owns it All

1Ch 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is your; your is the kingdom, O LORD, and you art exalted as head above all. 12  Both riches and honor come from you, and you reign over all; and in your hand is power and might; and in your hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all.  Cf. Pr 22:4
1Tim 6:10  For the love of money is a root of all [kinds of] evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Stewardship is a Lifestyle Lk 16:10  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11  If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12  And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

IV. We’re Faithful with our TALENTS when we use them according to His purposes (benefit of others and His glory)

1Pt 4:10  As each one has received a bestowal of grace/gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Heb 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

What do you have of each of the following? How can you use it to glorify God and love others as yourself?

V. We’re Faithful with the TRUTH when we Learn it, Live it, and Love others with it.

2Tim 2:2 you heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Know what to Do & Do what you Know {Meditate= Think thru mplications for Applications}   View of: God, self, world, others; Different spheres: Family, Home (roomates), Work, Church, Gov’t; How affect: purpose, dreams, values, thoughts, feelings, actions?)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate the faithfulness of most believers? How will they fare at the judgment seat? How about you?
2. Where do most folks fail/struggle to be faithful? Who or what can we blame? (know, values, teaching, models, “P”,  purpose, Satan, Bush…)
3. What started you on the path to faithfulness? What keeps you on the path? How can you motivate others to be faithful?
4. Do you find it easiest/hardest to be faithful with Time or Treasure or Talents or Truth? Any insights into why the difference?
5. What’s your biggest challenge in being faithful? How can you ensure that you will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”?