There are two different ways of translating this fruit. In some versions it’s translated ‘faith’, in others it’s translated ‘faithfulness’. The Greek word for faith which occurs 247 in the New Testament.
Either translation is legitimate, but neither is complete. The word means both faith and faithfulness. The division in our thinking between faith and faithfulness is somewhat artificial because in the original language of Scripture, faith includes faithfulness and faithfulness is impossible without faith. In either case, the key thought is in the word to depend.
It is like a single coin with two sides. One side is faith The other side is faithfulness. But in either case, the key is in the word depend.
The first side we will call faith. Faith is learning to depend on God in every situation and circumstance we face.
The other side of the coin is faithfulness, it is being dependable, being the kind of person others can depend on and that includes both God and man.
Faith is a quiet, steady, continuing trust in God’s faithfulness. The fruit of faith does not panic, does not get nervous, does not lose the victory, does not think of giving up. It’s a quiet, steady, tranquil, continuing trust in God.
2 Timothy 1: 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
The key word there is entrusted. The key to trust is entrusting. If you really know that you have put your life without reservation totally in the hands of God, that’s entrusting, that’s committing. Then you know for sure that everything that follows is God working out the best for you. So, trust comes from entrusting.
Now I’m going to consider the opposite side of the coin, faithfulness, being dependable. We need to lay hold of one fact that is stated over and over again in Scripture. God is faithful.
Now, the fruit of faithfulness is letting God work out His faithfulness in you. And I want to tell you that that takes practice. It doesn’t just happen.
All fruit must be cultivated. There’s no fruit that requires more cultivating than the fruit of faithfulness, and it starts with small things.
Luke 16:10 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.
Faithfulness starts in the very little things. So many people have got a wrong impression. They have some comparatively small responsibility assigned to them. It may be at work, or it may be in a family. Their attitude is, well, this is such a small thing that it’s not worthwhile giving much attention to. Now, if something big and important were committed to me, then I’d really show what kind of a person I am.
Let me correct you. Show what kind of a person you are most clearly when you’re taking charge of some small and apparently unimportant responsibility. That’s where your character is tested.
And in God’s kingdom, if you’re not faithful in small things, you never will be promoted to the big things.
So perhaps you need to check on yourself right now. How faithful are you? How dependable are you?
I want to ask you 4 rather personal questions.
First, do you make promises? Maybe to your children or your wife and then break them. One thing I’ve noticed about some of my Christian friends is they’re more faithful to keep their commitments to their employees than they are to their wives. Well, that’s not faithfulness.
Two, do you turn up late for appointments? One thing you’ll notice is God is never late. Everything that God is responsible for in this universe is punctual. You are not displaying God’s faithfulness if you are unpunctual.
Three, do you let your bills become overdue? You say, well, I was so pressed, I had so many other things to look after, but what about your creditors? Maybe they were pressed too. It’s not displaying God’s faithfulness to be slow and slack in paying your bills.
Fourth, Do you borrow money and not repay it? You know what it says in Psalm 37, verse 21? The wicked borrows and does not pay back. Now don’t get indignant. I’m not telling you you’re wicked, but I’m just saying if you’re a Christian and you borrow money and do not repay it, there’s an area in your life which is not reflecting the faithfulness of God.
You might say to me, well, you’re talking too much about money. Money isn’t important. Money isn’t spiritual. Money may not be spiritual, but let me tell you, it’s very important. It really is the test of our faithfulness, how we deal with our money.
Luke 16:11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you?
See, faithfulness begins in the small things, not the big things. It begins in the material things, not the spiritual things. If you’re faithful in the small things, God will commit to you the big things. If you’re faithful in the material, in money, in finance, in honoring God with your finance, with your tithes and offerings, then God will commit to you the true spiritual riches.
Whether it’s faith or faithfulness, the key is commitment.