Faithful is full of faith; and faithfulness is the quality of being faithful; fidelity, loyalty, constancy. “Faithful” comes from “faith,” which is simple confidence in God, in what he says, commands, and promises, such confidence as will lead to unswerving loyalty or adherence to his cause. That is not faithfulness which merely asserts, however loudly, belief or confidence in the cause of God or his word. That is not faithfulness which occasionally does some great act open to all. That is not faithfulness which, when the trial comes, chooses its own way instead of God’s way. That is not faithfulness which does not give whole-hearted service as well as profession to God and his word. It is easy in the heat of conflict, with enthusiastic companions cheering one on, to do some brilliant thing, and in the eyes of the unthinking some seemingly great deed. It is easy to run in the van of the army when the enemy is fleeing or in pursuit. It is not a difficult matter to stand for the right when in clear sight of friends whom we know will approve our actions. All these things will be true of the faithful, and more. Faithfulness is unswerving devotion to God in all things. The faithful man is faithful in what the world may call little things. In fact, this is the test of loyalty, or faithfulness. Jesus said, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Luke 16: 10. The faithful man is one whose actions spring from principles within, principles begotten of God. He does not ask, “Will it pay? Is it expedient? Can I afford to do it?” but, “Is it right? Is it God’s will?” However small may seem to human eyes the duty, he knows that there is nothing small in duty, nothing small that affects character. The failure to do a “little” duty would be easily repeated until “great” lapses from right would seem small; for the real test of faith always comes necessarily over the very thing that to us seems small and unimportant. It is not faith in God for us to do nine things which he commands because they seem best to us, and refuse to do the tenth because it is “unimportant” or “useless.” He who rebels on the one point, rebels on all; for in that very thing he rejects the authority of the Lawgiver. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” The very point in which he offends shows his attitude toward the authority which gave the law. He shows by the unfaithfulness in one point that if circumstances were the same respecting the others as the one, he would offend in all. Illustrations—Nadab and Abihu
We have forcible illustrations of this in the Scriptures. God commanded the priests to offer incense before him on the fire taken from the altar where he had kindled it; but two of Aaron’s sons, with minds blunted by intemperance, could see no difference between that fire and any other fire, so they “offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.” Lev. 10: 1-10. Unfaithful in what to them seemed a small thing, they showed by their act that they were unfaithful in the great things. They considered their own opinion worth more than what God had commanded, and met death in consequence. We have another illustration in the case of Uzzah. According to the Levitical law the ark was to be borne on the shoulders of the Levites. But in David’s time they seemed to think that God’s command had lost force through age, so they placed the ark on a new cart drawn by cattle. Doubtless the new way seemed much preferable to the old, having more dignity, elegance, etc.—and then the Philistines had done this very thing. But the oxen stumbled, the ark shook, and Uzzah felt that to save the sacred vessel he must steady it with his hand. By going contrary to God’s express command he was smitten with death. (See 2 Sam. 6: 3-7.) He preferred his way to God’s way, and exemplified the truth of the proverb, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Saul, the king of Israel, thought that he had “performed the commandment of the Lord” (see 1 Sam. 15: 1-23) when he spared the wicked Amalekite king, Agag, to grace his triumph, and allowed the people to spare the best of the sheep and oxen, ostensibly to sacrifice to the Lord. Surely a little thing like that was of no account, but it was a test of Saul’s character, and God could not trust him to rule over his people. And to him and to us the Lord said: “Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” This was demonstrated in the case of Saul himself. He who was partial in God’s commands, who had the presumption to say what was important and should be obeyed, and what not, in the latter part of his life sought for light at the hand of the emissaries of the devil, whom he had himself sentenced to die. Obedience that is not whole-hearted obedience is not obedience at all. To obey is better than the costliest sacrifice or gift. The first shows a loyal, devoted heart; the latter may show merely selfish ambition. “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.” God is the same yesterday, to-day, and all days to come. Was he particular then?—He is still. Merciful to the blind and ignorant, yet he demands whole-heartedness everywhere according to the light shining from the throne of God. It is as true now as it ever was, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord.” God’s law is as immutable to-day as when spoken from Sinai. It is as obligatory now as when Jesus said that it was easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail. It is the same unchangeable code as was manifest in Christ’s life, and honored by his death on the cross. God declares that it “shall not be abolished,” and that his commandments “stand fast forever and ever.” It is “perfect,” “holy,” “spiritual,” “just,” and “good.” It is so still. And yet there are those “partial in the law.” They declare nine precepts binding, they declare the one to be abolished or changed. That commandment enjoins a particular day—the seventh of the2septenary cycle—for particular reasons which pertain to that day alone as the Sabbath. But the apostasy tells us that “God is not particular, any day will do as well,” and so there is substituted the very day of all others which could not be the Lord’s rest day from his labors. Of this the Lord has also spoken: “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane [common], neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” Eze. 22: 26. As Israel’s priests of old were so besotted as to be unable to discern the sacred principle of loyalty, devotion, obedience, and faithfulness to God in the “little” thing of particular kind of fire, so many to-day are drunken, stupefied with the wine of Babylon, the errors of tradition, till they “put no difference” between that which is common and what God declares is “holy unto the Lord.” Yea, more than this: the apostasy has not only degraded the holy to the common, but has exalted the common to the place of the holy; and, sad to say, “My people love to have it so,” but “what will ye do in the end thereof?” God is the same still; he has not changed because men do. His law is the same, his Sabbath is the same; and he requires all to observe it loyally and in faithfulness. Do not be deceived, reader; “God is not mocked.” He will not serve with sin. Costly houses of worship, great institutions of learning, large sums expended in philanthropy, will not atone for disobedience. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him; but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.” Our only safety, our only true happiness, is in faithfulness and devotion to God. Particular in precept he is, and for it we praise him; for he is also particular in his promises. How Do We Come to the Word?
It makes much difference with what spirit man approaches the word of God as to whether he will understand it or not. He may not be a believer in all he thinks it claims, but if he comes to the word with a spirit of meekness and with a desire to know the truth that he may do it, the Spirit of God will enlighten his understanding. But let not the seeker deceive himself. He must be honest with God. “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” “He that willeth to do his will shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God.”