From “Growing in the character of a disciple”: Chapter 6 – A closer look at the various types of people with whom we must be faithful
Being faithful to God is our greatest duty. He is the main person to whom we must be loyal. God wants us to make a clear and definite choice to follow Him alone and to serve Him with unwavering sincerity. We also need to be faithful in obeying God’s Word:
14 “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:14-15 (RSV)
Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”
1 Kings 8:61 (RSV)
Moreover, the prophet Samuel told the people of Israel that they needed to put away all other gods and serve only God. They needed to direct their hearts to Him only and turn away from all other competing attractions. The same applies to us:
3 Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ash′taroth from among you, and direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4So Israel put away the Ba′als and the Ash′taroth, and they served the Lord only.
1 Samuel 7:3-4 (RSV)
King Saul was not faithful to God. He disobeyed God’s commands and failed to seek God’s guidance. None of that sounds spectacular or remarkable. Saul did what most of us do. Yet, it was serious enough in God’s eyes to cause Him to take the kingdom away from Saul and to give it to David:
13 So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. 14 He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14(ESV)
