Week 49: Am I trustworthy and dependable?

Our journey through the first six fruits of the Spirit has shown us how to grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness. Can someone in your family name the next fruit of the Spirit? Ask a family member to read Galatians 5:22 as we prepare to answer the question, “Am I trustworthy and dependable?”

Be ready to read the following passages:

  • 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
  • Psalm 86:15
  • Matthew 24:45-50
  • Lamentations 3:23
  • Luke 16:10-12

    • Let’s start it.

    What chores and responsibilities do you have at work or around the house? Who depends on you to get those things done?

    Let’s learn it.

    If you are a follower of Christ, then you are a steward – a person responsible for something that belongs to someone else. God has entrusted believers with something very valuable. Are you curious about what that is? To find out, ask a family member to read 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.

    God has given us His holy Word. It’s our job to share His message with the people around us and to faithfully carry out His plans. “Faithful” is a word we hear a lot at church, but what does it mean? Check out how Jesus explained it in Matthew 24:45-50.

    A faithful steward is loyal and dependable. He can be trusted to carry out his tasks, even when it seems that no one is watching. You see, God has not only entrusted you with the mission of sharing His Word – He has also given you other responsibilities. Think about your chores at home and your work at school or on your job. Are you trustworthy and dependable with those tasks? God tests our faithfulness in little things before He entrusts us with larger tasks. Let’s see what Jesus said about that. Who’s ready to read Luke 16:10-12?

    No one is more qualified to talk about faithfulness than Jesus. As we’ve discovered in previous devotions, each fruit of the Spirit is also a character trait of God. What do you learn about the Lord’s faithfulness from Psalm 86:15 and Lamentations 3:23?

    You can grow the spiritual fruit of faithfulness because of God’s faithfulness to you – it’s like a cup that can be filled until it overflows. He is even faithful to us when we are not faithful to Him (2 Timothy 2:13). We help God to accomplish His plans in the world by being trustworthy and dependable with His message and with the responsibilities He has given to us.

    Let’s discuss it.

    1. Look back at the tasks you wrote down in Let’s start it. Based on what we’ve just learned, what God-given responsibilities can you add to that list?
    2. Name specific ways that you can prove yourself faithful (trustworthy and dependable) with all of your responsibilities this week.

    Let’s do it.

    Have you ever wished you could do something really big for God? Then look for the smaller things He’s already entrusted to you. As you carry out those tasks in a dependable way, you prove that you can be trusted with more responsibility.

    So how would you answer today’s question? Are you trustworthy? Can people depend on you to do what you’re supposed to do? Can God? We don’t know when Jesus is coming back, but we certainly want to be found faithful when He does return. Determine to be faithful this week with each task you are given, even when no one is watching.

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