When we think of the word faithfulness we immediately think of fidelity; however, I want to breakdown the context on a deeper level.  Faithfulness is actually defined as being: strict or thorough in the performance of duty; true to one’s word, promises and vows; full of faith; believing, steady in allegiance or affection; loyal, reliable, and trusted.” 

Mulling over the true meaning of faithfulness I started to think about the life of David. David is said to be “a man after God’s own heart” referenced in 1 Samuel 13: 13-14 and then again in the New Testament in Acts 13: 21-22. By the definition above, we know that at times, David lived a life contrary to being loyal, reliable, trusted, or strict in his lifestyle. David committed adultery and then sent his army to kill the husband of the woman he slept with. To Christians this is considered blasphemous, yet he was promoted to King by our one and only King of Kings. In this modern age our youth would call David a pimp or gangster, so why would God call him faithful? 

I started to think of humanity in general. I reflected on my own life. Have I been sinless? Have I been flawless? Have I been wholly and pure in all my actions throughout life? Have I been an example of Christ every single day of my life? The answer is No. Human nature tends to focus on the wrong criteria when assessing a life of faithfulness. We look at things we can measure or critique based on what we see from the exterior and completely disregard the one thing that God looks at time and again, the heart. Human nature values criteria such as looks, fame, wealth, power and overall achievements. God’s view is unlike ours because he focuses on men and women whom the world regards as failures. What was it that set David apart from the King before him?  David understood what it meant to sow and reap a good harvest based on faithfulness. Despite his failures, David knew that without God there would never be success, conquering, or provision in his life or the lives of God’s people. David was tempted, he was tested, he failed, but he also learned valuable life lessons. This is the key to faithful living. 

In my personal opinion to live a life faithful unto God we must grasp the following concept: 

Without wisdom and knowledge there is no revelation. Without revelation there is no self-reflection. Without self-reflection we leave no room for change. Without change we cannot model the likeness of Christ.  All this to say, after every failure we have proof based on the Book of Psalms written by David, that self-reflection was at the root of his drive for change. This book is based on his life experiences, the same experiences that mirror those we walk through in the 21st Century. 

Take the life of David as a source of encouragement in that he recognized a relationship with God would provide a rock-solid foundation and anything outside of this would disrupt peace, purpose and destiny. David understood according to Psalm 48:14 that “For this God is our God for ever and ever, he will be our guide even to the end,” which was enough to keep David forging onward in his faithful walk with Christ.