GIF Loyalty

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”
(Proverbs 17:17)

Loyalty
by Larry Burkett

Although I’ve taught and written a lot about integrity being important, there is another characteristic that is vital in living: loyalty. Loyalty seems to be a lost art in our society. When people are in the midst of adversity, all too often others tend to abandon them.

Webster says that to be loyal means to be “unswerving in allegiance” and to be “faithful to a person, cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product.”

Christians have a reputation for being a group that “kills their wounded.” When people are down, we tend to judge them instead of help them.

Even if people have brought the trouble on themselves, God’s Word teaches that we are to act in love. It says that if we see someone in need and have the ability to help and don’t, how can we say that the love of God abides in us?

In the Old Testament Absalom asked Hushai: “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” (2 Samuel 16:17).

Certainly integrity should be a minimum requirement in Christians, but the second most valuable quality is loyalty.

To whom can you show your loyalty today?

Don’t forget, Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, evenas I have loved you, that you have love for one another” (John 13:34).

Daily Scripture Reading:
Matthew 8:19-22; 18
Mark 9:33-50
Luke 9:46-62
John 7:2-10