His Faithfulness vs. Ours
OPENING THOUGHT
Horton Hears a Who! is a children's book by Dr. Seuss. It tells the story of Horton the Elephant and his adventures saving Whoville, a tiny planet located on a speck of dust, from the animals who mock him. These animals attempt to steal and burn the speck of dust, so Horton goes to great lengths to save Whoville from being incinerated. Horton never gives up. At one point he says, “I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent.”
Faithfulness is “meaning what you say and saying what you mean—one hundred percent!”
Christians make the Good Confession, “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!” But do we mean what we say? Are we faithful? Why do churches have such a hard time keeping their members faithful in attendance and loyalty? Why do they have to reward and coax them into service? What God needs from his people more than anything is faithfulness. Not everyone can lead singing, teach classes, or preach. But everyone can be faithful.
God is always faithful. May we draw from his example so that we can be faithful to him!
EXPLORING GOD’S WORD
Micah 7:18-20
Micah says, “You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham….” Can you give some examples of God’s faithfulness to Israel?
Did the Lord ever fail in his promises to his people? (see Josh. 21:45).
Micah said the Lord’s faithfulness was according to oaths he had “sworn to our fathers from the days of old.” When God swears an oath, is there any doubt he will keep it?
Numbers 23:19
These are the words of Balaam, a prophet the king of Moab was trying to pay to prophecy against God's people. What was Balaam’s point? Why would the king's plan fail?
Faithfulness is a major distinction between God and man. Balaam gives an example of our faithlessness, saying we “lie” and “change our minds.” What are some other examples of our faithlessness?
What does it mean to be faithful to God?
Why do we struggle with our faithfulness to God?
What does it mean to be faithful to one another?
Why do we struggle with our faithfulness to one another?
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Paul explains that God remains faithful even if we are faithless because “he cannot deny himself.” How is faithfulness tied to his character?
What would life be like if we couldn't depend on God?
1 Corinthians 10:6-13
Give some examples of the Israelites’ unfaithfulness that are mentioned in the text.
What will happen to someone who arrogantly thinks he stands?
The word translated “temptation” in v. 13 can also refer to trials that test us. What is God's promise to the one who faces temptations and trials?
What quality of God does Paul mention in order to make this encouragement powerful?
Luke 16:10-12
Does God's expectations of faithfulness depend on whether things are big or small?
Give some examples of small things that require our faithfulness (e.g., not cheating on tests at school).
Give some examples of how faithfulness in small matters indicates whether one will be faithful in large matters (e.g., an elder's ability to manage his household indicates his potential for leading the church, 1 Tim. 3:5).
