Editorial July 28, 1986 Issue

The joy of being faithful

CAROLYN B. SWAN

It seems tempting at times just to walk out on personal obligations that have become disappointing or distasteful. But should inharmony, ingratitude, even infidelity on the part of others, justify our abandonment of faithfulness to our commitments? Regardless of what others may think or say or do, when we remain faithful by striving to heal a marriage that has gone sour, or by sticking to a family or church responsibility we feel stuck with, we can realize a great blessing.

Faithfulness enriches our nature because it is a quality of God. The Bible says, "The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."^{II Thess. 3:3.}

Christ Jesus evidently viewed faithfulness in everyday situations as an index of character, for he said, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much."^{Luke 16:10.} Jesus so perfectly exemplified fidelity that he held his ground and won out over evil in small matters as well as massive ones. Even when circumstances seemed not only unpromising but forbidding, he proved that God, good, is invincible, unopposed.