Just last week, I officiated the graveside service of a man who died at the age of 95. He was a believer in Jesus Christ, a World War 2 veteran, and was married to his wife for 68 years. Let that number sink in for a moment. He was married to his wife for nearly 7 decades!

Then, just this week, I was out for coffee, when I met a friend in town. I asked him how he was doing, and he responded, with great enthusiasm, “I’m great! Tomorrow my wife and I celebrate 62 years of marriage.” This man married his wife at 20 and is now 82 years old with over 6 decades of marriage behind him!

I don’t know about you, but numbers like these blow me away. I’m awestruck as I think to myself, “How do you do that? What’s the secret sauce to long-term faithfulness?” Certainly, the grace of God is one of the key factors in long-term faithfulness, but meeting people who actually have stayed tried and true is always a remarkable privilege.

I often say that long-term faithfulness trumps short-term fervency. This quote is not original with me, but it’s a powerful statement to the extreme value of faithfulness. In fact, let’s think deeply for a moment on the topic of faithfulness. I have three thoughts…

1. Faithfulness is beautiful. In other words, being a faithful man or woman is extremely attractive. There’s just something about a loyal individual that makes them trustworthy and worth your time to get to know at a deep level. Are you such a person? Proverbs 20:6 states, “Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?”
2. Faithfulness is difficult. It’s hard to stay faithful. It’s just plain difficult. Why? Because we live in a culture that is easily bored. We live in a society that prizes things that are new, or cutting edge, or exciting. Many of us like the beginnings of things. Some of us enjoy the middle of things. However, few stick around to see the beauty and benefits of the end of things…
3. Faithfulness is beneficial. The Bible constantly points us to the extreme benefits and rewards of faithfulness. God Himself is always faithful (2 Timothy 2:13) and He rewards those who mirror His image in this way (Matthew 25:21). It’s worth it to be faithful! Indeed, it is a requirement…1 Corinthians 4:2b states, “It is expected of managers (or stewards/servants) that each one of them be found faithful.”

May God continue to mold and shape all of us into faithful saints who glorify Him!