Discovering the Unwavering Loyalty of God and How to Live It Out

Faithfulness is a word we often use to describe loyalty, commitment, and steadfastness, but what does it really mean in the context of God—and how can we live it out every day? Welcome back to our series on the divine attributes of God. In this post, we dive deep into the fascinating, inspiring, and life-changing reality of God’s faithfulness: what it looks like in Scripture, how Jesus exemplified it, and what it means for us as followers of Christ.

What Is Faithfulness, Really?

Most of us think of faithfulness as sticking by someone’s side no matter what. Merriam-Webster calls it “steadfast in affection or allegiance,” while the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary says it’s “the quality of staying with or supporting a particular person, organization or belief.” Even in tech circles, faithfulness pops up as reliability and trustworthiness in AI[1]—quite the modern twist! But when it comes to God, faithfulness goes deeper. Dr. Charles Stanley put it perfectly: God’s faithfulness means He is utterly dependable and trustworthy—He will always do what He promises.

Biblical Portraits of Faithfulness

The Bible is full of stories where faithfulness shines with breathtaking clarity. Take David and Jonathan, for example. Jonathan, the son of King Saul and next in line for the throne, risked everything—including his father’s wrath—to protect his friend David, whom God had chosen as king. Jonathan devised a clever plan to warn David of danger, staying true to their friendship even when it cost him the crown (1 Samuel 20). Years later, David kept his promise to Jonathan by caring for Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, treating him like family even after Saul and Jonathan’s deaths (2 Samuel 9).

Or look at Ruth, who refused to abandon her mother-in-law Naomi after both their husbands died. Though Ruth wasn’t Jewish, she traveled with Naomi to Israel and worked tirelessly to provide for them both. Their story even introduces Boaz, who showed faithfulness by marrying Ruth and redeeming Naomi’s family in accordance with Jewish law (Ruth 1-4).

Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, stands out, too. When he learned of Mary’s miraculous pregnancy, he didn’t walk away—he stood by her, supported her, and protected their family, following God’s instructions with unwavering commitment (Matthew 1-19-24; 2:13-15, 19-22).

Jesus Christ: The Ultimate Example

If you want a masterclass in faithfulness, look no further than Jesus Himself. As both God and man (see Colossians 1:15-18; 2:9; John 1:1-3, 14), He lived a life of perfect fidelity to God the Father. As a twelve-year-old, He stayed behind in the Jerusalem temple, intent on His Father’s business, surprising His parents and the religious teachers with wisdom beyond His years. Near the end of His earthly mission, Jesus affirmed in prayer that He had completed the work God sent Him to do and remained steadfast to His disciples—even in the face of betrayal and denial.

On the cross, Jesus’ faithfulness didn’t waver. He made sure His mother Mary would be cared for by His beloved disciple John, thinking of her even in His final moments (John 19:26-27).

How Can We Model Faithfulness Today?

Living out faithfulness as a Christian means putting God in first place—above everything else. That can be tough in a world packed with distractions and competing priorities. Idolatry isn’t always golden statues—it’s anything we love or prioritize more than God: jobs, family, money, achievements, or even our schedules. Jesus said it best in Matthew 10:37: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

But modeling faithfulness also means committing to those around us—family, friends, colleagues, and employers—with the same loyalty, reliability, and integrity that God demonstrates.

While faithfulness to God is the foundation, the Bible and the teachings of Jesus also call us to be faithful in our relationships with others. This aspect of faithfulness is lived out daily with family, friends, colleagues, and employers.

• Family: Faithfulness in the family means honoring commitments, supporting loved ones, and standing by each other in good times and bad. It’s seen in the care Ruth gave Naomi, the protection Joseph offered Mary, and even in Jesus’ concern for His mother. Practicing faithfulness at home may involve being present, keeping promises, and extending forgiveness when relationships are strained.
• Friends: True friendship is marked by loyalty and trust, as demonstrated by David and Jonathan. Being faithful to friends means being trustworthy, showing up when needed, and maintaining honesty and integrity, even when it’s difficult.
• Colleagues: In the workplace, faithfulness looks like reliability, teamwork, and respect. It’s about doing your part, supporting coworkers, and fostering an environment of trust. Faithfulness can also mean standing up for what is right, even if it’s unpopular.
• Employers: For employees, faithfulness involves being dependable, working diligently, and upholding company values. For employers, it’s about treating staff with fairness and integrity, keeping commitments, and creating a culture where loyalty and mutual respect thrive.

Practicing faithfulness in these spheres reflects God’s character, builds trust, and strengthens bonds, creating communities where people know they can depend on each other. So, how will you model faithfulness today?

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[1] Lyu, Qing, et al. “Faithful chain-of-thought reasoning.” The 13th International Joint Conference on Natural Language Processing and the 3rd Conference of the Asia-Pacific Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (IJCNLP-AACL 2023). 2023.