The need for faithfulness - Proverbs 20:6

The need for faithfulness

June 22, 2012 – Men's Breakfast

Proverbs 20:6

 

Introduction

• What is one of the most important things a man can bring to the table?
• Whether in the home, at work, in our community
• It is that a man is made to be faithful
• The Bible encourages us to be faithful
• Prov 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
• It is increasingly hard to find faithful men
• This is a characteristic of our culture, and it has infiltrated the church
• To be faithful has different nuances to it
• This morning we will look at how faithfulness can become part of our identity

Definition

• Faithful means that you can be trusted with something
• People can have faith in you in some respect
• God is faithful – 1 Cor 1:9
• If this is an attribute of God, we should be becoming that way too
• Because we are being transformed into His likeness
• 2Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.
• So how can people around us see us as trust worthy, worthy of trust?

Being sexually trustworthy

• I was reading this morning that nearly 25% of total internet search engine requests are pornographic in nature
• That is 68 million hits per day
• The average age of first exposure to pornography is estimated at 11 years of age
• 47% of families in the USA reported that pornography is a problem in their home – National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families
• Consistent viewing of sexually explicit material more than triples the marital infidelity rate - NCPCF
• 40% of sex addicts lose their spouses
• As men, we should be able to be trusted by the women in our life
• As Christians we should be standing out against a society that is increasingly promiscuous
• Proverbs 5:19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
• Determine to be satisfied with your wife, and to not allow yourself to stray in this area

Being dependable

• Men are intended to be the anchor of their family
• Our family needs a dad who is dependable
• Our children need a dad they can count on
• Are we faithful and dependable to what we have promised
• Is our word our bond?
• James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
• If we set an example of being dependable, our children will be able to look back and recognize that our family did have standards
• This will make them more solid citizens as they grow up

Be true to yourself

• There is an epidemic of depression and anxiety in this nation
• Mental health has become a big issue
• Even our children talk about mental illness issues as though it is the norm
• A lot of these mental issues come from people not living the way that they know they should be inside
• When we have certain standards we know are right, internally, but our actions copy the community around us, there is conflict in our persona
• this comes out particularly in depression, because we are not happy about ourselves, and we are angry at ourselves
• Far better to be faithful to whom we are
• We are children of God, that is now our identity
• A child of God will live by God's standards, in every aspect of life

Conclusion

• As men of God, let us stand up for what is right, true, good and holy
• Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
• Let our yes, be yes, and our no be no
• Let us be sexually faithful, trustworthy
• Our wife should be able to know that we would not go to those pornographic pictures, because we are faithful
• Let us be dependable
• Our family should recognize that there are values for which we stand, and upon which we will not waver
• Let us be true to ourselves
• Inside ourselves we should know that we are living what we believe in
• As we live a faithful life, it will create peace and security in our families, it will give us a reputation of being someone people can rely on, and we will be happier individuals because we are true to ourselves