FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN LIVING INVOLVES CONSCIOUS DECISION MAKING

Victor M. Eskew

 

            The word “faithful” ought to describe every child of God.  Paul tells us in I Corinthians 4:2 that faithfulness is required.  “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”  For some Christians this seems to be very easy.  For other Christians, faithfulness is a very difficult.  Why is faithfulness so easy for some and so difficult for others?  The answer lies in a very simple answer, conscious decision making.

            To live the Christian life faithfully, one must make lot of decisions.  I will attend all Bible Classes.  I will attend every worship service.  I will study my Bible.  I will pray without ceasing.  I will visit.  I will engage in good works.  I will be an example to others.  I will give liberally.  I will be an active member of the local congregation.  I will spread the good news of the gospel to others.  I will love my brethren.  I will turn away from sin.  I will forgive those who sin against me.  I will repent when I have sinned.  I will grow.  I will be fruitful.  I will allow Christ to be seen in me.  I will watch my tongue.  I will have a good attitude.  I will not be soon angry.  I will endure to the end.  I will not be ashamed of the gospel.  I will stand opposed to evil.  I will be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10).  Every one of these actions begins with a conscious decision to do them.

            The word “conscious” is defined as:  “done with full awareness, deliberate.”  Dear readers, we are not robots that are programmed to do certain things.  We care not children who are under the authority of parents who only do things to please mother and father.  We are not slaves under the dominion of a tyrannical slave owner who must do all the owner’s wishes or be beaten.  We are not citizens of a nation controlled by a dictator who tells us we must conform our lives to his will, or, else face his wrath.  We are adults.  We have control of our lives.  We are free to do the things we want to do.  We can make up our own minds.  As far as our Christianity is concerned, no one forced us to become a Christian.  Too, no one is forcing us to be faithful to God.  We are faithful because we choose to be faithful.  We make a deliberate decision to serve God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matt. 22:37-38).

            Why aren’t some Christians faithful to God?  They have not made a conscious decision to be faithful.  They may have a deep longing to be faithful, but they have not consciously decided to be faithful.  They may have an understanding that they need to be faithful, but they have not made the conscious decision to do so.  Sadly, some have made the conscious decision not be faithful to God.  These individuals either refuse to do anything, or, they are going to be “faithful’ the way they want to be faithful instead of the way God tells His people to be faithful in the Word. 

            Conscious decisions are extremely difficult.  The reason they are difficult is because they involve a commitment on the part of the individual.  “I will do this,” or, “I will not do this” are at the end of every conscious decision.  Go back to the second paragraph of this article.  Notice that every one of the statements begin with the words:  “I will.”  Commitments involve honesty.  Commitments involve change.  Commitments involve effort.  Commitments involve the long haul.  The words:  “Yes, I will be faithful to God,” can be gut-wrenching.  To commit musters everything a person has within him.  He knows there is no turning back.  This is it.  This is what MUST be done.

            This conscious decision should have been made the very moment an individual became a Christian.  It was at that point that he was giving his life completely to God.  An individual acknowledges that he is no longer the master of his life.  From the moment a person rises from the waters of baptism, he makes the Lord his Master.  “For ye are bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (I Cor. 6:20).  Do you remember that day?  Do you remember your decision?  Do you remember the joy you had as you surrendered yourself to the Lord?  Do you remember the firmness of mind that you had?  I am saved.  I am redeemed.  I love the Lord.  I will serve him forever.  Where did those feelings and commitments go?  Why have you turned from following Christ?  Why has your life turned from faithfulness to fruitlessness? 

            Dear reader, are you faithful to God?  Has your faithfulness faltered?  When God examines your life, does He see one about whom He can say:  “I have not seen so great faith”?  or, does He say:  “O ye of little faith”?  Perhaps now is the time to make a conscious decision to rededicate yourself to your service to the Lord.  Remember, this is a deliberate decision.  It is one that is made with full awareness of what is involved in the decision.  We see an example of such a decision in the life of the Prodigal Son.  “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough, and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son:  make me as one of thy hired servants.  And he arose, and went to his father” (Luke 15:17-20a).  Dear reader, when we stand before God on the Day of Judgment, we will want to hear these words:  “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21a).  Make your decision.  Make a conscious decision.  Anyone who has made such a decision for Christ has never lived or died to regret it!