What does loyalty mean to you? Would you consider yourself a loyal person?
If so, in what ways are you demonstrating such loyalty? As a wife? As
a mother? As a Christian? Are you really loyal to the Lord and others,
or only to yourself?
Proverbs 20:6
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man
who can find?
A person who is loyal has a habit of being true and faithful to God, to
other people, to a duty, or to a promise. Loyalty is shown through an
unwavering completion of responsibilities NO MATTER WHAT THE DIFFICULTIES
MAY BE. A person who is loyal will defend - with determination - his privilege
to be obedient and faithful to the object of his loyalty. If we are correct
and right in our Christian life at every point, but refuse to stand for
the truth at a particular point where the battle rages - then we are traitors
to Christ...
Psalm 12:1
Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among
the children of men.
Loyalty builds trust. Can you recognize loyalty in other people? Although
by one action you can't determine if a person is loyal or not, you can
notice the specific instances of loyalty that are helping a person to
become loyal in character. How many of us wives feel our husbands are
loyal to us, to our marriages? How is their loyalty demonstrated? How
has it enhanced your trust in your husband? When disloyalty prevails,
so then does mistrust. Disloyalty does great harm, not only to a marriage,
but also to the cause of Christ!
James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the
world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the
world is the enemy of God.
Today, I want us to take a moment and search our hearts to determine if
we are learning to be loyal. Are you practicing habits of loyalty to God,
to other people, your duties, and your promises??
Phillipians 2:14-15
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless
and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked
and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
This world is sorely lacking in loyalty! Men and women are no longer loyal
to one another, to their marriages. Women are not as loyal to their duties
and responsibilities in the home anymore. Children are not loyal to their
parents, to their family unit as a whole. Adults are no longer loyal to
America and the foundation it was built upon. Christians are lacking in
loyalty as well! Yes, even Christians need to be careful that they do
not fall under the title of "disloyal", for scripture says we are to be
lights in this crooked and perverse nation. Loyalty is a character trait
that should shine forth, is it not? Why then are we repeatedly found murmuring
and disputing over our duties and responsibilities in the various areas
of our lives that I mentioned above? To murmur and complain is to voice
your infidelity.
Titus 3:8
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly,
that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good
works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Ladies, loyalty in our marriages should find us spending time doing those
things that are pleasing to our mates, those things that will contribute
to a happy and healthy marital relationship. There must be an unwavering
completion of responsibilities - no matter what the difficulties may be!
Does that sound like your attitude toward your marriage and the things
that you might have to do to make it work?? Perhaps your husband likes
to come home to a neat, quiet house rather than a toy-strewn, unkempt
living room. Maybe he doesn't like you to be on the computer when he is
home, or to do any housework in the evening… Are you loyal to that cause,
to his desires, even though you might think it a bit ridiculous? A truly
loyal wife will carry out her responsibilities in the home and marriage
regardless of the way she feels about completing the task. A loyal wife
will defend with heart her privilege to be obedient and faithful to the
object of her loyalty - her husband! In all honesty, ladies, most times
we are found murmuring and disputing over our duties and responsibilities
in the home simply because we are really only loyal to ourselves and to
our own desires…
1 Tim. 3:11
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in
ALL things.
For instance, my husband likes it when we keep his car clean if and when
we use it. I must confess, that I have not always been loyal to this cause
in times past! I do not usually feel like taking the time after returning
home from a hectic day of running errands or grocery shopping with the
kids etc., to clean up the untidiness we may have created in his car that
day, however slight. But my loyalty to his likes and dislikes will bring
me to the place of either doing it myself, or seeing to it that one or
all of the children leave the car in the manner in which my husband likes
to find it! You see ladies, when men and women cease to be faithful to
their God, how can we expect to find them faithful to each other? Be careful
before you pride yourself in saying that you are a loyal wife… Are you
loyal even in the little things your husband may ask of you?? Can you
fulfill those tasks without complaint? Would you say you are loyal to
his reputation or do you regularly murmur about his desires and his decisions?
Stop and think about it today.... Are you truly loyal to the role you
have as a wife, or are you maintaining an independent spirit in your home?
The reason I ask is because these little things are the very ingredients
that comprise the total character of one who is considered loyal.
Luke 16:10-11
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and
he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye
have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your
trust true riches?
Ladies, our highest loyalty should be to God and HIS eternal values! Jesus
contrasted heavenly values with earthly values when He explained that
our first loyalty should be to those things that do not fade, cannot be
stolen or used up, and never wear out.... As parents, we desire that our
children are loyal to us, to the family unit, to the running smoothly
of the home, don't we? Do you enjoy it when they murmur or dispute over
the things that you might ask of them to do? Teach them to be loyal! First
by example, and then by training them properly.... If persons can't manage
themselves properly in minor affairs, how can we expect that they will
have the power to resist temptation in the day of great trouble?? We must
all habituate ourselves to act uprightly in the smallest of tasks so that
we will acquire the habit of being faithful in matters of great concern!
Titus 1:6b
....having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Do your children act one way in your presence and yet another way when
you are nowhere to be found? That is not loyalty! Do they speak reverently
about you and your husband in the presence of others, or use that opportunity
to complain about you and your rules, the behavior of your family members?
That is not loyalty! What kinds of things are YOU found doing when nobody
is looking, dear lady? Now consider what kinds of things your children
might be doing when you aren't around… Do they hide things from you? That
is not loyalty! Loyalty to God must be stressed first for HE sees everything!
Are you emphasizing loyalty to the Lord by your example before them? Ladies,
your children will learn to be as loyal to God as you are loyal to Him.
Scary thought, isn't it?? Without restraint wives mumble and grumble about
their husbands yet discipline their children for complaining about them
behind their back. How dare you enforce loyalty in their lives and not
your own!
1 Cor. 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be FOUND FAITHFUL.
How do we show the Lord that we are loyal to Him? Do we faithfully spend
time in His Word and prayer? Do we stand up for the cause of Christ when
we have opportunity, or remain silent? Do we teach our children the things
of God at home? Do we maintain a blameless testimony before others that
would glorify our Heavenly Father because we are loyal members of His
family? Do you have a tendency to complain about what you have had to
go through as a Christian, about a particular trial, or circumstances
that God has allowed into your life? "Okay God, what are you up to now?"
attitudes do not display allegiance to anyone but yourself! Loyalty to
God will watch with resolve for every opportunity to be obedient and faithful
to Him - regardless of what the difficulties may be…
Luke 12:51-52
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but
rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house
divided, three against two, and two against three.
In these strange and unsettling words above, Jesus revealed that His coming
often results in conflict. You see, He demands a response so intimate
from us that groups may be torn apart when some choose to follow Him and
others refuse to do so. There is no middle ground with Jesus!! Loyalties
MUST be declared and commitments made, sometimes to the point of severing
other relationships. Are you willing to risk division when it comes to
your commitment to Christ?
Loyalty says:
Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself...
These are the words of Christ, a Son who was loyal to His Father:
John 8:29
....for I do always those things that please Him.
As we close on that note, let me ask you again: Are you truly loyal to
the Lord, or only to yourself?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
