I was thinking a while back. Well okay, I was talking to someone about faith in a certain situation (which I better not disclose) and this thought hit me. Am I faithful or just full of it?
Faith, almost everyone talks about it and says they have it, but I think a larger number of them are more full of it, then they are faithful. Being faithful has to be more than just talking about it. It takes action, stepping out, trusting when all else seems hopeless or impossible, not letting doubt invade, and most importantly God has to be present in our mind and heart.
Let me tell you a story. There was a pastor that at one time had some major bills due and for some reason (I don’t know why) was not going to be able to meet them. He was stressed but that stress led to faith, which led to prayer, which led to God providing in a miraculous way. It wasn’t flashy or movie worthy but it was miraculous. He hadn’t publicized it or made a big deal about it. It was just between him, his family and God. A few days later they received an anonymous envelope with the money that was needed. COOL!! This pastor had faith, his faith in God never wavered nor did he doubt; he just remained faithful.
Wait, I have another story I would like to share. There was a man who was sick and in the hospital and the outlook was that he might not see the end of the month, as the doctors could not figure out what was wrong. Everything they did helped a little then things would turn and seem worse. There was a wife who knew that there was only one person that could help her husband and she went to that person several times every day. She even asked her friends and family to go to that person every day and they did. Guess what, that person came through, He touched and He treated her husband and her husband got well and was even better than he was before he got sick. AWESOME!! By the way, that person she went to was Jesus. Her faith in Jesus never wavered nor did she doubt; she just remained faithful.
Okay one final story, I promise it is the last one. There was this man who seemed to have everything and then through a series of tragic events he lost all of his children and all of his grandchildren. He even lost his job and his wealth. The only thing he had left it seemed was his wife and his faith. But things got worse. His wife and his best friends all told him that he was stupid and that he should give up his faith that he had and curse God because God didn’t care, or these things wouldn’t have happened. He continued to have faith and believe that God did care and he prayed and cried out to God. God heard him and saw his faith and returned all of what he had lost and more than what he had before. (This man was Job in case you hadn't picked up on that.) This man had faith, his faith in God never wavered nor did he doubt; Job just remained faithful.
We all have times in our lives, our jobs, our businesses, our health, our finances, and our families in which we need to be faithful. At those times we can choose to talk a lot about faith (Being full of it.) or we can truly be faithful by depending on God in an unquestioning and undoubting way. There are even times in our church where we need to be faithful that God will make up for a lack of funds, the need for more people to help with ministry or programs, work out the different points of view, resolve conflict, or turn the hearts of the lost toward Him. It is in those times that we can choose to talk a lot about faith (Being full of it.) or we can truly be faithful by depending on God in an unquestioning and undoubting way.
Do you have faith?
Will your faith in God ever waiver?
Will you doubt, or will you just remain faithful?
At the end of Job’s story he has a conversion with God and this is what Job realizes:
I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?”Surely I spoke about things I did not understand,things too wondrous for me to know.
You said, “Listen now, and I will speak.
When I question you, you will inform me.”
I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you.
Job 42:2-5 (CSB)
So I leave you with one question. Are you FAITHFUL or just Full Of It? Let me reiterate:
“Being faithful has to be more than just talking about it. It takes action, stepping out, trusting when all else seems hopeless or impossible, not letting doubt invade, and most importantly God has to be present in our mind and hearts.”
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. Hebrews 11:1(CSB
- Pastor Sean