Loyalty

Loyalty

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews13:5).

As we near the close of our study of the leadership acrostic JJ DID TIE BUCKLE we come to the characteristic of loyalty. It is a quality that is closely related to faithfulness. It is that kind of attitude that sticks with something no matter what. If there were an animal to attach this quality to it would most likely fit a golden retriever.

The unique quality that I think makes loyalty a little different than faithfulness is that loyalty seems to focus more on relationships where faithfulness focuses more on activities. We here of people who are faithful in church attendance, faithful to appointments, faithful in carrying out duties, etc. The only area that I think they overlap is in the realm of marriage, Husbands and wives are to be faithful in fulfilling the roles in their marriages and loyal to one another.

Here is another unique quality of loyalty - it allows for mistakes. It bears with the shortcomings and frailties of human nature and continues to remain loyal to the person. That reflects the character of God. Our Colony verse, Deuteronomy 31:8, shows God's loyalty to Israel. "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (NIV). God will not show Himself disloyal to us when we are afraid. he will nor forsake us. In other words, He won't leave you hangin' or throw you under the bus.

In this "dog-eat-dog" world we live in. It is essential to demonstrate loyalty to those around us. And all you have to do to be loyal is just be there for someone. It's not about talent, skill or ability. All God desires from us is the availability to be used by Him. - Pastor Mike Woods - Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries for Men

Great Quote -- If we are delivered from law-works-as, thank God, we are, if we are true Christians-it is not that we should be good-for-nothing self pleasers, but that life-works might be produced in us, to the glory of Him whose name we bear, whose we are, and whom we are bound, by every argument, to love, obey and serve. May we earnestly seek to apply our hearts to this practical line of things. We are imperatively called upon to do so, and we may fully count upon the abundant grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to enable us to respond to the call, spite of the ten thousand difficulties and hindrances that lie in our way. Oh for a deeper work of grace in our souls, a closer walk with God, a more pronounced discipleship!" CH MacIntosh, Notes on Deuteronomy, 1861