Sunday Leftovers (6/26/11)

Tychicus was a faithful servant (lit., “deacon”).

Don’t read over those words too quickly, assuming that it is a standard and ordinary commendation for a friend.  Only two men in the NT receive this commendation, or the similar “faithful slave” — Tychicus (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7) and Epaphras (Col. 1:7). This, then, is a remarkable statement about men of unusual character.

And lest we think that while this is a commendable affirmation, it is not relevant to us, we must remember that Christ indicated that this is a worthy goal for every believer (Mt. 25:21, 23).

Which makes me wonder — what does it mean to be a faithful servant?  What does a life of faithfulness look like?  There are quite a few indications in Scripture.

Faithfulness is obedience to the Master’s command.

“Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?” (Mt. 24:45)

“The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’”  (Mt. 25:20-21)

Faithfulness is obedience to the Master’s command, regardless of the seeming insignificance of the task.

“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Lk. 16:10-13)

But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:11-14)

Faithfulness is demonstrated by true words — a reflection of God’s own faithfulness.

But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. (2 Cor. 1:18)

Faithfulness is tested in every area of life.

Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. (1 Tim. 3:11)

Faithfulness is a test of worthiness for discipleship and ministry.

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Tim. 2:2)

Faithfulness is revealed in the willing heart of servanthood.

Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later (Heb. 3:5)

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mk. 10:45)

Faithfulness is required as long as we live.

“‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.’” (Rev. 2:10)

What matters in life is not external appearances of success. What is important to the Lord is our faithfulness to Him.  Do we stay with Him?  Do we stay with Him regardless of all else? A few decades ago, F. B. Meyer captured the essence of our need when he wrote, “Don’t waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come.  But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention.”

Work hard not for success, but to hear the commendation that you have been a faithful servant to the Master.