Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3: 3-4 (NIV)
To live in love and faithfulness requires us to exercise our new nature. Our old nature is set on self-preservation that is rooted in fear. In self-preservation mode, we don’t think about being loving and faithful; we just want our interests protected. Self-interest does not invite the favor of God or man, and it brings about division and dissension between people. Love and faithfulness belong to our new nature born out of the character of God who is loving and faithful. They are also two attributes of the fruit of the Spirit operating in our lives as stated in Galatians 5:22.
Joseph is a great example of someone who walked in love and faithfulness and had favor with God and with man.
The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. Genesis 39: 2-4
In studying the life of Joseph, we see that his relationship with God remained intact regardless of the circumstances. Because of his assurance of the love of God, he did not retaliate or quit. Joseph had faith in the love and faithfulness of God. Therefore, he remained faithful to God’s purpose in his life.
Joesph was consistent in fulfilling his assignments despite facing betrayals and accusation from his family and his master’s wife. He was also able to be loving towards his brothers when he reunited with them years later. He even blessed them by giving them a fertile field to occupy. Joseph knew God was with him and that the Lord was faithful to him. This gave him the strength to be loving and faithful towards God and towards man, and it gained the favor of God and man.
Joesph had a beautiful relationship with his earthly father, Jacob, that must have helped him in relating to the Lord properly. Some of us have not had that kind of a relationship with our earthly father. However, we have something that Joesph did not have; we have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us. The Holy Spirit is our comforter and counselor. Salvation has given us a new nature, and we need to continually let go of the past and allow God to paint a picture of how a father is supposed to look like.
Having faith in God’s love and faithfulness is the very thing that allows us to overcome.We guard our hearts by keeping those truths around our neck and writing them on the tablets of our hearts. If we remain in God’s love by believing that He is for us, it keeps us stable and firm. This assurance is the foundation that helps to establish us as a loving and faithful person.
If you are challenged by a situation right now, meditate on the above scripture and embrace the love of God and His faithfulness. Allow the goodness and the love of God to comfort you and strengthen you. Don’t let anything else distract you and just focus on Him.
