Is Our Faithfulness Important to God?

1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14 Focusing on verses 1 & 14

Today while reading my One Year Bible the two verses above connected for me and  stopped me in my tracks.  "The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness." Then again at end of chapter, "Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD.  So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse."

The two words that jumped off the page at me were in verse 1 as well as 13; unfaithfulness and unfaithful, then the words "to the LORD" in verse 13 stood out to me.

Most of us would consider ourselves faithful wouldn't we?  We are faithful to our spouses, children, careers, churches, even to our ministries.  We faithfully pay our bills, keep up our homes, show up at work on time, work hard at whatever we do.  Could it be that we are still found unfaithful to the LORD? 

Think about it.  Look at verse 13-14 again.  "So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD."  Can I truly say I have been faithful to the LORD?  Can you?  Look again,  "He did not keep the word of the LORD."   Can we truly say we have been faithful to keep the word of the LORD in our lives? 

Check this out!, "and even consulted a medium for guidance", are we in the practice of consulting mediums through horoscopes, seminars, CD's, books, new age practices of our day?  How about the Oprah craze or Dr. Phil?  The 1st part of verse 14 states: "and did not inquire of the LORD.  So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse."  How many times have we made decisions whether small or big without first inquiring of the LORD through prayer, God's word or godly counsel?  What were the results?

This passage has made me stop and take a good look at my faithfulness "to the LORD".  The Holy Spirit has already begun working and showing me areas of my life where I too have been unfaithful "to the LORD". 

How about you?  Where have you been unfaithful "to the LORD"?   Will you stop, be still, ask God to search your heart and show you those areas of unfaithfulness and respond with repentance?  Don't you want to hear God say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant"? 

God, forgive us for neglecting our relationship with your Son Jesus Christ.  Forgive us for neglecting the house of God.  Forgive us for forgetting our first love.  Forgive us (the church) for prideful and arrogant hearts. Forgive us for being so critical of our brothers/sisters in Christ.   Forgive us for being really good "doers" but unfaithful "be-ers".  Show us where we have been unfaithful to You Oh LORD.  Thank you for your mercy and grace as we confess, repent and turn back to you with faithful hearts. 

In Jesus Name,