The Bible talks about loyalty. When your heart is fixed on something or someone, your total concentration towards that thing or person should be evident. You simply cannot be half-hearted in your commitment. This is so in all situations of life whether it is your friends, your spouse, your job or your commitment to God and His church.
Let’s consider this verse:
Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Now in the New King James Version...
Matthew 6:24 - " No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
- The Greek word translated hold or loyal is “antechomai”. It means to hold oneself opposite to, adhere to; by extension to care for.
- So you can see that loyalty carries the idea of holding to and supporting something or someone. Support can come in many fashions such as time, effort and finances.
The Bible continually instructs us to hold fast to the principles of the Kingdom of God. This means making a conscious effort to set aside other things to continue in the things pertaining to Almighty God.
Let’s consider two verses from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Christians in Phillipa:
- Philippians 2:15-16 - that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
- The Book of Hebrews has something to say along these lines. Chapter 10:32-39 of The Living Bible says: 32 Don't ever forget those wonderful days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you kept right on with the Lord even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were laughed at and beaten, and sometimes you watched and sympathized with others suffering the same things. 34 You suffered with those thrown into jail, and you were actually joyful when all you owned was taken from you, knowing that better things were awaiting you in heaven, things that would be yours forever. 35 Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens. Remember your reward! 36 You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised. 37 His coming will not be delayed much longer. 38 And those whose faith has made them good in God's sight must live by faith, trusting him in everything. Otherwise, if they shrink back, God will have no pleasure in them. 39 But we have never turned our backs on God and sealed our fate. No, our faith in him assures our souls' salvation.
Ask yourself one question: Am I Loyal to the Lord and His work?
What a great opportunity for you and I to make an adjustment in this area of our lives, if we discover that we have answered in the negative.
Loyalty is Holding Fast to what we know, and in our case what we know from the scriptures.
Remember to say the following out loud with sincere conviction, “I’m believing to be at the Right Place, at the Right Time saying the Right Thing and the right thing to say is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”