SIX KEYS

TO

FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN LIVING (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

          One would think that faithful Christian living would be easy for the Christian.  Every Christian has experienced the love of God and should want to return that love through an obedient life (1 John 4:19).  Children of God understand that the Christian life is the best possible life that can be lived (1 Pet. 3:10-11).  Jesus’ disciples also know that if they live faithfully unto death they will experience the abundant joys of their Lord and Savior in the hereafter (Matt. 25:21, 23).

          Even though all of the things listed above are true, there are many Christians who struggle with faithfulness in their day to day walk with the Lord.  They do not study and pray as they should.  They do not attend worship services and Bible classes steadfastly.  They struggle with sin.  They do not use their time, talents, and treasures in the work of the Lord.  They are not evangelistic.  The Christian life is not their “way of life;” it is simply “a part of life.”

          Dear readers, God wants us to be faithful (Rev. 2:10).  All Christians can be faithful if they will put six key elements into their lives.  We examined three in last week’s article.  We want to look at three more keys in this article.  The fourth key to faithful Christian living involves learning how MEANINGFUL this life is.  If something is meaningful, it is significant and has value to the individual.  Some do not regard the Christian life as meaningful because it doesn’t produce physical abundance in their life.  They do not value it because it requires commitment and diligence.  It is here that the convert’s perspective must change.  The Christian life is about the inner man or spiritual man.  It is about one’s relationship with the Almighty God.  The Christian life is about eternal things, not temporal matters.  The Christian life is about man’s spirit and soul.  It is about life in the world to come.  Paul notes the focus of the Christian life in Colossians 3:1-4.  “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, and not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”  The question that the Christian must ask himself is this:  “What am I supposed to be receiving from my Christian life?”  Pardon?  Fellowship with God?  Service to others?  Peace?  Hope?  Heaven?  These and many other blessings are significant.  They mean more than any physical blessings and pleasures of this life.

          The fifth key of faithful Christian living involves being UNENCUMBERED with the cares, riches, pleasures, and sins of this life.  The child of God lives in this world, but this world no longer holds the fascination and attraction that it did before he became a Christian.  All sin is understood to be evil.  The affairs that worldly men believe to be so important have little meaning in the long-term scheme of things.  This world and all that is in it will one day come to an end.  The Christian, therefore, sets these things aside.  “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).  The affairs of the world call for a “little” attention at first.  However, they soon become our masters.  We must bow before their demands instead of heeding the will of our spiritual Master.  Therefore, the Christian must always be considering this inquiry:  “What are the things in my life that are hindering me from being faithful to my Lord and Master Jesus Christ?” 

          The sixth key of a faithful Christian life is found in the word PRACTICE.  The Christian life is to be practiced, that is, it is to be lived on a daily basis.  Christianity is not a compartment of our life.  Christianity is our life.  Every day the child of God is supposed to manifest Christ to the world.  Every aspect of the Christian’s life is molded by the Word of God.  The disciple of Christ not only learns the Word of God but is a doer of the Word.  “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves…But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:22, 25).  When the Christian ceases to do the will of God, his mind wanders.  Not only does his mind wander, but his life wanders as well.  Satan will do all he can to make us tired.  He will make us doubt our efforts.  He will cause us to grow frustrated.  He will allow us to believe that procrastination is acceptable.  Thus, another question all Christians need to ask themselves is:  “Am I doing everything God wants me to do right now as I seek to live faithfully for Him?”

          It’s true that faithfulness should be the result of one’s redemption obtained in Christ.  It is also true that faithfulness is something that requires diligence on the part of the Christian.  In order to be faithful, some key elements should be found in the Christian’s life.  His Christianity is real.  He is serious about Christianity.  He makes a commitment to faithful living.  That commitment is made because Christianity is meaningful.  Anything that encumbers the spiritual race in which the Christian runs is set aside.   And, every day, he is fully committed to the practice of Christianity.

          Let’s conclude with the questions that we have asked in this study.  As you answer these questions, please be honest with yourself.  If you find that you answer one or two of the  questions incorrectly, this may be the very reason you are not living the Christian life as faithfully as you should be.

 

Do I believe everything involved in my Christian profession is real?

Does God know that I take my Christian life seriously?

Am I living totally committed to being like Jesus in my daily life?

What am I really seeking to obtain from my Christian life?

What are the things in my life that hinder me from being faithful to my Master?

Am I doing everything God wants me to do right now as His follower?