A Faithful Priest

1 Samuel 2:35

And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

Faithfulness is one attribute God looks for in every person, an attribute that any person can achieve. When God referred to Samuel, He declared that He would raise up a faithful priest. Notice that God did not condemn Eli as a wicked man, but rather as an unfaithful priest. Similarly, God did not label Eli as a sinful man, but rather as an unfaithful priest. While Eli possessed many admirable qualities, faithfulness was the attribute that God desired.

As outlined in the Scriptures, a person who has accepted Christ as their Saviour are considered priests of God. 1 Peter 2:9 shows this when it says believers are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. You will notice we are a royal priesthood. Revelation 1:5-6 also emphasizes this truth when it says, And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

As priests of God, every believer should be faithful. God asks in Proverbs 20:6, Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? God looks for faithfulness in His children. God knows the quality of being faithful will cause a believer to be the type of Christian they are supposed to be. Let me share a few thoughts about the importance of faithfulness.

First, anyone can be faithful. Faithfulness is a choice by the educated and the uneducated. Faithfulness can be achieved by the healthy and unhealthy. Faithfulness can be achieved by the talented and untalented. Faithfulness can be achieved because it means you will be where you are supposed to be all the time.

Second, faithfulness affects every area of your life. You will not be faithful in one area and unfaithful in another. Faithfulness is a character trait that will be found in every area of a person’s life. If a person is unfaithful in one area of life, they will be unfaithful in other areas of their life. Faithfulness is part of the character and being of a person. When you choose to be faithful, it will cause you to be faithful in your marriage, on the job, in what you believe, and in your service to God. Faithfulness is critical to being the person you are supposed to be in every area of life.

Third, faithfulness is the quality God looks for to determine whom He will use. If you want God to use you, you must be faithful in all things. Unfaithfulness hurts the cause of Christ. The growth of many churches is hindered because of the unfaithfulness of God’s people. Faithfulness is that quality that God needs to accomplish great tasks through an individual’s life.

Are you faithful? Can people around you count on you being there all the time? Can God count on you being faithful? Faithfulness is your choice to be where you are supposed to be all the time. Remember, all it takes to be unfaithful is not to show up one time, so be a person who is faithful to be where you are supposed to be all the time.