God's Faithfulness

God is faithful to His people. Sometimes, it is hard to believe this is true. All the pain and suffering in this world, or just in my life, have generated doubt about God's faithfulness. When will I be delivered from my misery? When can I live in a roomy mansion, walk on golden streets, and maybe even drive a Porsche? Indeed, this is a misconception of God's faithfulness. There is an assumption that if a person is faithful to God, that God will faithfully reward that person with materialistic wealth. This assumption is accurately termed the "Prosperity Gospel" or "Health and Wealth Gospel." Now I am not saying that it is wrong to be rich. The problem is when it becomes the basis of our faith. Take a look at this provocative passage from the Gospel of Luke:

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”  And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?  Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’?  Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?  So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:5-10, ESV)

We are God's servants. When we are faithful to God, we are only doing what we are supposed to be doing all along. It is wrong of us to expect a reward. Instead, we should always approach God in humility. Because God is a loving Master, He has always been faithful to us, to the point of sending His son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins (1 Peter 2:24-25, ESV). God has never owed us anything. Everything He does for us is out of His love and grace; it has never been about our works.

O Lord, God in heaven, forgive me for my rebellion against your faithfulness. Increase my faith, but with humility and contentment in all You have provided for me. Amen.