Modes of God’s Appraisal of Human’s Faithfulness

1. Possession of right values

A faithful person knows what’s significant in life and what is not. He/she discerns how to invest life, makes life count, and knows the noteworthy apart from the inconsequential.

Proverbs 28:20 The trustworthy man will be richly blessed; he who is in haste to grow rich will not go unpunished.

This verse contrasts faithfulness with a craving to be well-heeled speedily. He’s not talking about making money but exclaims that there is more to life than simply the accrual of things. The Scripture challenges to live like fish swimming upstream in an extremely money-oriented world. Faithfulness is demonstrated by one’s refusal to buy into the system that says the almighty buck is the number one thing in life. 

Faithfulness is often affirmed by opting into a simplified standard of living to give more time for the ministry.

2. Concern for the interests of others

2 Corinthians 8:21 For we are concerned for what is honorable not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of others.

God judges one's faithfulness through his/her relationship with other people by being concern not just of her/his own relationships but the relationships of others.

Faithfulness swims against the stream of modern culture, which normally says, “What’s in it for me, what are my needs, my dreams, my desires, my goals, my hurts, my values, my profit, and my benefit?” But God says faithfulness is affirmed by one’s others-directedness and by giving one’s life away, by looking at others rather than centering a spotlight on one self.

3. Living with integrity amidst a skeptical world

2 Corinthians 1;12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with the simplicity and sincerity of God, and not by human wisdom but by the grace of God.

Mark of faithfulness is the kind of testimony one could have with unbelievers.

4. Keeping a promise

God looks at all the promises one has made.

Proverbs 20:25 Rashly to pledge a sacred gift is a trap for a man, or to regret a vow once made.

It’s effortless to get into debt than to get out of it – that’s crafting a promise to pay. It’s effortless to enter into a relationship than out of a relationship. It’s effortless to fill up schedule than it is to accomplish schedule.

The Holy Scripture says that faithfulness is a matter of if one says it, he/she does it. So keep promises. The number one cause of aversion is a broken promise.

5. Honing of God-given gifts

God makes an investment in human’s life and He expects a return on it. 

1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.

People are getting cheated when spiritual gift is not used. Faithfulness is based on what one could do with what one has.

6. Conformity on God’s instructions

1 Samuel 2:35  I will choose a faithful priest who shall do what I have in heart and mind. I will establish a lasting house for him which shall function in the presence of my anointed forever.

God identifies faithfulness as submission to His will. One can be skilled leaders and communicators, but disobedience excludes one from being glimpsed as faithful as God characterizes it. This is basic but indispensable.

7. Be infectious on learning

The Scripture talks more about the transmission process of multiplication giving what one learns to faithful men and those faithful men are to give it to others unremittingly. No one would be here today if there hadn’t been faithful men and women in the last more than 2000 years of the church, who are leading today because some faithful men and women took time to document the Scriptures while others preserved it, and still others translated the Scriptures. We’re here in a communal assembly because of the testimony of these faithful people.

It should be one’s sense of responsibility to pass on to others the Spiritual truth that God teaches.

Galatians 5:22-23 In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

When the Holy Spirit lives into one’s life, she/he should exhibit faithfulness. How do we know that one is filled with the Holy Spirit? Is it some kind of emotional experience? One can have an emotional experience but not be filled with the Holy Spirit. So what is the test therefore? The fruit is the test. By articulating one’s faithful disposition to her/his commitments that God has given her/him, one is filled by the Holy Spirit.