Christian Message Boards: Faithfulness

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Posted by barrykind (Member # 35) on :

Scripture: Proverbs 3:3-4
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck,
write them on the table of your heart. Then you will win favor and a
good name in the sight of God and man." (NIV)

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to be born with an
attractive personality? They make hardly any effort, yet people are
drawn to them. Now, I am not a psychologist or social scientist, but it
seems that for these people certain personality traits are hard-wired
in
from birth - wittiness, warmth, friendliness, the "look," athleticism
and intelligence.
But, being "Mr. or Ms. Personality" is a surface thing to be enjoyed
for
a passing moment, like a spray of mist on a hot day.
Character is something different, something that can be learned, that
can be built. It is not hardwired from birth, in fact, just the
opposite
is true. We are all born with an insufferable self-centeredness. "Mine"
is one of the first words found in the internationally accepted subset
of the Toddlers' English.
Character involves such non-tangibles as love and faithfulness. Love is
reaching out beyond my egotism to live my life for someone else's
benefit. Faithfulness is living my life consistent with that love. It
means I will never let you down.

Being a sinner as I am, these two things are difficult to maintain,
warring as it were against my own sinful soul. But, God is faithful and
He is loving - toward me and toward you. He never fails, and therefore,
I can trust Him and His love. Now that I know I am loved by Him and
that
He will never leave me or forsake me, I don't have to live my life
trying to get that love and acceptance from others. I already have it
from the most significant Person in the universe.

Now, instead of spending energy trying to gain attention from others,
getting them to accept me or even love me - I can spend
that energy reaching out to others with the same love and acceptance
with which God loves and accepts me.
The result? "Favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." In
other words, a good reputation that counts!

Prayer: Father, thank you for helping me daily build a good reputation
built on You. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Sent to me by a freind~