Jonathan Edwards and Resolutions (32): On Being Faithful and Trustworthy

RESOLUTION 32

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.

COMMENTARY:

I live in an area where it's not uncommon to see businesses use crosses and fish symbols in their branding. I think I know what they are trying to communicate. They are marketing their faith because they believe that trustworthiness is synonymous with the Christian faith. They believe that people are more apt to trust them (and hire them) if they are Christians. They hope their marrying of the Christian faith with their particular business will speak (positively) to potential customers about their work ethic, pricing, quality of job, and timeliness.

And it should be this way. Christians should have the reputation of being the most trustworthy people out there. Businesses operated and owned by Christians should be better.

Philippians 2 speaks of exemplary character- and ultimately of the faithful Man. In Phillippians 2 Paul commends Jesus not just as Savior, but as a trustworthy example for us to follow.

2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Edwards understood that trustworthiness- being a man of his word- being a faithful man- had spiritual and eternal ramifications. Whatever the Lord entrusts to us- a family; a good job; responsibilities at our local church; helping a neighbor- we should strive toward being good stewards of it all. We do this because the greatest steward of all- Jesus, has commanded us to. And not only has He commanded us to be, but He modeled stewardship for us as He obediently laid His life down for the elect.