Loyalty to God?
The word loyalty and loyal are not found within the Word of God, but the idea of loyalty to God is found throughout the pages of inspiration. As one looks up loyalty, they find that loyal defined is: giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution. Synonyms for loyal include: faithful, true, devoted, steadfast, unwavering, dedicated and committed.
It is readily apparent that many are not loyal to God as they do not show faithfulness to God by doing the things that He says for them to do in His Word. Jesus is Lord and God, and many call Him Lord, yet they will not be obedient to what He wants us to do. In Luke 6:46 Jesus Himself asked His disciples: And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? One cannot be loyal to God and not do the things the Lord wants us to do.
One also cannot be loyal to God without knowing God’s Word. The Word is how God communicates His Will to us in this age. In Hebrews 1:1-2 we read of this. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Since God now speaks to us through His Son, why don’t we do what He says? God’s Word is also where we read of His inspired Word to the Psalmist in Psalms 119:38. Here the psalmist wants to know God’s Word because he is devoted to respect and loyalty to the Lord. Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
The Word “fear” here means respect and reverence. This is what we read what the Spirit had David pen in Psalm 119:4-6. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. 5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! 6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Then we read in vss 9-16, the inspired means to stability, faithfulness and fidelity, which means “loyalty”. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
But, where does God indicate to us today that He Commands and expects loyalty? As pointed out earlier, loyalty to God is indicated by faithfulness, dedication and commitment. In Galatians 5:1, Paul was directed to write: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. The “yoke of bondage” is when one is in sin. To be “bound” in sin is to die eternally. The Spirit had Paul in 1Thessalonians 3:8 tell these folks how important it was to be loyal to God. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. To be disloyal to God is to die.
We could also look to Hebrews 10:23 and see that God is faithful, as He is committed to His promises to us. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) God will not waver from His promises. Colossians 3:24 is one of many places where we can read that God will indeed reward the faithful and loyal. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Then we read in the verse following that God is also just. All who are not loyal to Him and His Word will receive a “just reward”. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. (Colossians 3:25)
Space will not permit the full examination of this need to be loyal to God in this article. It should be enough to know that God Will justly reward for obedience and fidelity, and that He will justly punish for disobedience and failure to remain loyal to Him, once you’ve committed to Him. The Spirit had John in 2John vs 8 warn the brethren so they not lose their reward. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.If they were not “loyal to God”, they would lose their reward. However, loyalty to God and His Word brings a full reward.
Where is the evidence of your respect for and loyalty to God? Have you followed the plan of salvation? If not, you do not yet belong to God and cannot be loyal to Him. You need to obey the gospel today. Let us help you. If you have obeyed the gospel, how do you show your loyalty? Are you being loyal to God when you are absent from services, fail to read and study, or fail to give monies to the work as the Lord has prospered you? If you need to make changes, make them before it is too late.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
