Faithful. CHECK. Fruitful?
Faithfulness to the Lord is something the church emphasizes often. In fact, we've placed a high value on it for a long time—and rightly so. Faithfulness is a big deal. It plays a significant role when we stand before the Lord in judgment. Jesus Himself says, “Well done, good and FAITHFUL servant. Enter into your reward” (Matthew 25, The Parable of the Talents, emphasis mine). Clearly, faithfulness is a priority in the Kingdom of God.
What Does Faithfulness Look Like Today?
That’s a great question. Since we love measurables, let's break it down into two parts:
Faithfulness to God
Faithfulness to His people
I believe God places significant value on both.
Faithfulness to the Lord
Faithfulness to God might look like:
A deep desire and commitment to holiness.
Full trust and surrender to His purposes and will.
Engaging in spiritual disciplines like daily devotionals, faithful giving, fasting, and prayer.
This list isn’t exhaustive, but if we want to be faithful to the Lord, these should be at the top.
Faithfulness to His People
If I were making a list, I’d start with Hebrews 10, where we are encouraged to:
Not give up meeting together.
Hold firmly to the hope we have in Christ.
Be people of His presence with sincerity.
Encourage one another as we wait for Jesus.
Again, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but it’s a solid starting point.
Faithfulness vs. Fruitfulness
Now, let me challenge our thinking. There’s no doubt God values faithfulness, but what about fruitfulness?
Look at the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25—the same place where we get the phrase “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The workers who were rewarded weren’t just faithful in their hearts; they did something with what their master had entrusted to them. They produced something. They were fruitful.
Faithfulness wasn’t just about staying loyal—it was about acting on what was given.
Contrast this with the third servant, who simply buried his talent. His master calls him wicked and unfaithful, not because he hated or betrayed his master, but because he wasn’t fruitful. He did nothing with what he was given.
This should stop us in our tracks.
Faithfulness = Fruitfulness.
Fruitfulness is Faithfulness.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever understood those two as linked before. But consider this:
We can check all the faithfulness boxes—attending church, paying tithes, serving, etc.—but if we never use what God has given us, are we truly faithful? If our faithfulness doesn’t lead to fruitfulness, will the Master still respond with reward and accolade? (Spoiler: look at what happened to the unfaithful servant!)
The Master requires faithfulness that produces fruitfulness.
Faithfulness alone doesn’t automatically lead to fruitfulness. It must be cultivated and acted upon daily, as the Master leads.
How to Live a Faithfully Fruitful Life
So, how do we make this shift?
1. Choose to Be Fruitful
Decide that everything God has entrusted to you—time, talent, and treasure—belongs to Him, not you.
You are the servant in the story. He is the Master.
This is the area we often struggle with the most, but unpacking it fully would require another article.
2. Obey What God Has Already Said
Faithfulness isn’t just about avoiding sin—it’s about actively obeying God’s commands.
For example, we don’t need to pray about whether to:
Love our enemies.
Treat others as we want to be treated.
Be humble.
Give generously as He leads.
Serve with gratitude and joy.
We simply need to do these things.
3. Take Leaps (or Steps) of Faith
The faithful servants in the parable took action.
They took risks with what they were given.
Obedient faith often means stepping out without guarantees. It’s risky. But it’s also what faithfulness looks like in action.
4. Leave the Results to Jesus
John 15 tells us, “Remain in me, and my words will remain in you. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you will bear much fruit.”
That’s the key:
Remain in Him. Commit to His Word. Live in relationship with Him.
When we do this, fruitfulness isn’t forced—it’s the natural result.
Faithful AND Fruitful
Let’s remain faithful—especially as we see the Day of the Lord approaching.
But let’s also be fruitful.
Living for His glory.
Bringing people to Jesus.
Remaining in Him—so that through Him, we can bear much fruit.
