Message topic: Why should we strive to please God?
Scripture text: James 2:14-18
Hunan beings, are wired to seek meaning and purpose in our lives: for many of us, that search leads to our faith in God. Being faithful to God is a journey that requires dedication, commitment, and a willingness to live our lives according to the principles of God: therefore, we are going to seek what is required of mankind to live our lives striving to please God, it requires great effort.
What is it that is required of mankind to live their lives pleasing to God? It is not all who call themselves Christians will find a place in God’s kingdom; it is only those who has become faithful: so what is it that we must do to be faithful to God? We must know what is the true meaning of being faithful to God.
Now we need to know what is the importance of being faithful to God: and what is the relationship between faithfulness and obedience with relation to trust: Are there any Biblical examples of being faithful to God? Are there any modern-day examples of faithfulness to God?
What are the benefits of being faithful to God? Are they only spiritual? Are there any emotional physical benefits? are there any temptations we will encounter when we strive to live our lives pleasing to God? Will we have to develop a relationship with God, by talking to Him through prayer and meditates, through his words daily in obedience, while seeking forgiveness and reconciliations.
What does it really mean to be faithful to God? For us as Christians, being faithful to God means trusting and having faith in God’s plan for our lives, even when we don’t understand it all, things seem difficult, surrendering our will to God’s will, and allowing him to guide us through the Holy Spirit towards the path he has set for us. God has declared it in Jeremiah 29:11, that He only has good plans for us, plans to prosper us and to give us future and hope.
Being faithful to God is also about following the teachings of Christ Jesus and striving to live according to His example. Demonstrating obedience to his commandments and seeking to live a life that is in alignment with his will. This may involve making sacrifices, overcoming challenges, and making difficult choices that require us to put our faith in God above all else. As God says, be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. (Rev. 2: 10)
So what is the importance of being faithful to God?
Being faithful to God helps us to build a stronger relationship with Him. As mentioned in Hebrews 11:16, that without faith it is impossible to please God. Because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. As a result, we get a sense of comfort and guidance in time of difficulty, knowing that we are not alone and that God is always with us.
Additionally, being faithful to God is important because it gives us a sense of purpose and meaning in life. When we live our lives in accordance with God’s will, we are able to tap into a deeper sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment than we could ever achieve through material possessions or worldly success.
Understanding faithfulness to God. Faithfulness to God can be understood in two ways: obedience and trust. These two aspects of faithfulness, are interconnected, as obedience strengthens our trust in God and our trust in God strengthens our obedience.
Faithfulness in relation to obedience. Obedience means following God’s commands and doing what is right in his sight. We find these words in James 2: 14-17. What good is it, brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Are there any relation in trust and faithfulness?
Trust means having complete confidence in God’s promises, even in times of uncertainty or difficulty, this means being loyal to God and believing in His word whether we have more or less, whether the conditions are favorable or not. The bible teaches us in 2nd. Chronicles 16: 9 that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to him.
Are there any biblical examples of faithfulness to God?
Abraham was crowned as the father of the faithful ones because he demonstrated faithfulness both in trust and obedience. Abraham trusted God promise to give him a son at an old age, and he faithfully held on to that promise, even though his biological clock was against him, until the promise came.
Are there any spiritual benefits of being faithful to God?
Being faithful to God comes with many benefits. Spiritually, faithfulness strengthens our relationship with God, and it enables us to experience his presence and blessings in our lives. The bible teaches us in 2nd. Chronicles 16:9, that God is always looking for people whose hearts are loyal to Him, in order to demonstrate His power on their side. As a result, when we remain faithful to God in spite of difficulties, we experience God’s glory as the scripture say in (Romans 8:18.)
Faithfulness in God brings Emotional benefits:
Emotionally, faithfulness brings peace and joy, even in difficult circumstances. We are assures in Isaiah 26: 3 that God will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on him, because he trusts in him.
There are always challenges to being faithful to God.
Despite the benefits of being faithful, there are many challenges that can hinder our faithfulness. Temptations, such as greed or lust, selfishness, can cause us to prioritize our desires over God’s commands, but we must do as the bible says in James 4: 7, submit yourselves, then to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. What are the trials which we face daily?
Trials, such as sickness, financial difficulties, or attacks from enemies can make us question God’s goodness and faithfulness. However, we need to remember what the scripture says, resist him (the devil,) standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings, and the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:9-10)
How can we be more faithful to God?
Being more faithful to God requires a deliberate effort on our part to prioritize our relationship with him and live according to his teachings. Hare are some ways that we can cultivate a deeper sense of faithfulness in our lives. Developing a relationship with God.
To be faithful to God, we must first develop a personal relationship with Him. This means, spending time in prayer, reading His words, and seeking to understanding His character and will for our lives.
We will need regular fervent prayer.
One of the most important ways to deepen our relationship with God is through regular prayer, The word of God teaches us in Psalm 141:2 that our prayers are like a sacrifice to God with a sweet smelling fragrance. This is also validated in Acts 10: 2-4 where the angel of God appears to Cornelius, who was a devoted prayer warrior, to confirm that his prayers have ascended as a memorial offering before God. So prayer allows us to live in fellowship with God and to walk in divine favor.