10-20-2024 The Characteristics of Faithfulness

Text: Colossians 2:1-7

                    In the first chapter of his letter to the Colossians, Paul pointed out the significance of Christ and the world mission of Christianity.  Now, with himself as part of the mission, he is showing his concern for the Colossians and for us today.  This morning, I would like for us to look a little deeper into what Paul meant when he wrote Colossians 2:1-7:   “ (1) For I would that you know what great conflict I have for you and for them at Laodicea, for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; (2) that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the Mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (3) in Whom [meaning Jesus] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  (4) And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words; (5) for though I be absent in the flesh, I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding our order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.  (6) As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord:  (7) routed and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”  Paul is talking about the faithfulness of the Church and its members. 

                   There was a Texan named J. B. Gambrell who was a hero of the pioneer days.  Mr. Gambrell spoke of a dog’s territory being limited to the area around his master’s wagon.  Since the wagons rode high off the ground, the dog could run along underneath the wagon as it traveled.  He said, “I would never have a dog that ran under someone else’s wagon.”  That was his way of saying that faithfulness in a dog was an important necessity to him.  Just as Mr. Gambrell spoke of the importance of faithfulness in his dog, Paul is pointing out four important characteristics of faithfulness for Christians to the Colossians of old and to us even today.  In verse 1 of our text, he expresses his concern for all of those to whom he was writing even though he was mindful of the fact that he may not have met all of them personally.  Let’s take a look at those characteristics of Christian faithfulness are for the Church.

                   In verse 2 of our text Paul wrote about of the strengthening of others, the first characteristic of faithfulness for Christians.  When he wrote that their hearts might be comforted, he is reminding us that the Church must be a source of endless encouragement.  Charles Trentham, a Southern Baptist minister of the First Baptist Church of Knoxville Tennessee in the 1950s once observed that it wasn’t comfort in the sense of uplifting words or flattering phrases to which Paul was referring.  Instead, it was the strengthening that comes from divine reinforcement from the Holy Spirit and found in the Word of God.  In ancient times there was a Greek regiment that had lost heart, lost courage, and was utterly dejected.  The general sent a leader to talk to that regiment.  As he spoke, their courage was reborn, and this group of dispirited soldiers became a body of men again ready for heroic action.  This is what God does for us.  He has provided His Word to strengthen us in times when we feel lost and unable to continue in order to give us strength and courage in times of adversity.  The characteristic of faithfulness in Christians is also used to strengthen one another so that the Church is filled strong and courageous people to deal heroically with any situation they encounter.  

                   Paul wanted the Church to be knit together in love.  The bond of love in a Church is the second characteristic of faithfulness in a Church that follows Jesus.  The same Jesus whose whole life was a life of love forms a bond of love with His followers that knits them together with Him and with one another.  It’s important to always remember that the Church that loves Jesus must also love the people of Jesus.  There was a young girl who loved her father, but she had trouble getting along with her brother.  When her father came home from work one evening she ran to him, threw her arms around his neck, and hugged him.  At the same time, she stuck her tongue out at her brother.  But her father told her that she couldn’t love him and at the same time treat her brother that way that she did.  For us, when we love Jesus, we must also love those that Jesus loves – even unbelievers.

                   Discipline in life is the third characteristic of faithfulness.  Discipline means order.  The order and steadfastness mentioned in verse 5 of our text are terms often used in the military.  They give the picture of a well-disciplined force standing firmly rank upon rank in a formation that can’t be broken.  The Church that is faithful to Jesus must also have discipline.  It doesn’t exist without a purpose, and it doesn’t function randomly.  Instead, it functions with discipline and order so that the work of the Lord can be accomplished, and the Gospel can be proclaimed.  Discipline also means ministry and includes regular church attendance, worship, prayer, helping those in need, and telling others about Jesus and what He has done for you.

                   The fourth characteristic of faithfulness is the growth of our faith.  This is the growth and maturing that comes as we learn about and experience more of the love of Jesus and the power and majesty of God.  As new Christians, we have a lot of mental, emotional, and spiritual immaturity because we had been separated from the only soil in which we could appropriately grow.  Elton Trueblood an early 20th century Quaker chaplain, spoke of a “cut flower civilization” in which nonbelievers are like flowers in a vase: beautiful and brilliant, but they never grow and prosper because they have no roots.  This is a description of people who don’t know Jesus as their personal Savior.  Without Jesus, we have no roots because the soil we are planted in can’t give the roots the support they need to grow.  Only Jesus can give us what we need to grow, blossom, and mature as members of the family of God.  The more we learn about Him from our Bible and experience how He helps us throughout our life, the more our faith grows.  This growth can only happen when we make the decision to put our complete faith and trust in Him.  Then we naturally become more thankful because of all that Jesus does for us and our deeper understanding of the plan that God put in place for our salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

                   The four characteristics of faithfulness in the second chapter of Colossians are characteristics we must have to live a strong and productive Christian life.  This is done with encouragement from those in the Church and, more importantly, after our acceptance of Jesus as our personal Savior and a commitment to learning more about God and Jesus by studying our Bible.  When we do this our lives become more complete, and we have the courage and help we need to get through all of the difficulties that we will experience in life.  We grow to trust and believe there will come a day when the promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of God will be realized, and we will again be reunited with those who have gone before us to live in the presence of Jesus Christ.

                   Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.