Loyalty is a quality we value greatly. It’s sometimes applied to unexceptional situations such as “brand loyalty,” a “loyalty card” or as a descriptor of a dog. Loyalty can also be used in a manipulative way. Perhaps a boss “demands loyalty” (which, ironically, implies that the so-called loyal subordinate is expected to potentially compromise his standards for the benefit of the boss).
While the term “loyalty” is applied to these scenarios, it’s not the true and honest sort. Even if you can’t adequately articulate its definition, you know it when you experience it. True loyalty involves a relational commitment. One may be faithful to her promise or true to her word, but loyalty is on another level. Legitimate loyalty is a commitment to another person that bears itself out in a willingness to sacrifice himself over time for the benefit of another. (The “willingness” portion of that definition is what makes the demand for loyalty illogical.)
This kind of relational fidelity is described in the book of Proverbs.
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. (Proverbs 11:13)
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)
You know exactly who these people are in your life. There are biblical accounts of these kinds of people in the Bible—Joseph’s loyalty to Potiphar, Jonathan’s to David and Ruth’s to Naomi. In each circumstance there were exceptional risks taken and meaningful sacrifices made for the sake of the other person. When we read these accounts we rightfully hail their examples of loyalty as godly models worth emulating.
There is, however, no greater example of loyalty than God condescending to make a covenant with His people. He placed Himself on the hook when made a promise to save a people that failed to love Him. To demonstrate the lopsided nature of man’s relationship to God He commanded His prophet Hosea to marry a promiscuous woman. As faithful Hosea righteously loved her, she fled to pursue her lovers. Hosea’s persistent loyalty in the face of unmitigated betrayal is difficult to comprehend. Yet to an exponentially greater degree God’s loyalty was demonstrated when He sacrificed His own Son so that we who were consistently faithless could be reconciled to a holy God. The death of the Sinless One resulted in purification of the stained ones.
If you are a child of God, you will be accounted as perfectly righteous on Judgment Day. The question to be asked today is, “To what extent is your loyalty evident to this most holy and gracious God? Are you consistently willing to sacrifice yourself over time for the glory of God?” Your daily life is filled with decisions that put your commitment on display.
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24)
Life is filled with opportunities to demonstrate commitment or compromise. They take place in the board room, at the dinner table, in the bedroom, at the ballpark, on the freeway and even a church service! Take a moment to evaluate the areas where you are most tempted to serve the wrong master. In an honest evaluation of your failures to sacrifice yourself for the glory of God, what is the pattern? With whom does it take place? In what environment? About which topic do you displace the throne’s Occupant so that you can take the seat for a spell?
Knowing that, determine what measures you need to take to ensure that it does not happen in the future. Are there “friends” you should not spend time around? Are there topics you should avoid or places you shouldn’t go or shows you shouldn’t watch? Those are the kinds of sacrifices that you can make that demonstrate true and honest loyalty to God. Pray that God would reveal to you the areas where you are tempted to disloyalty and ask Him to give you the wisdom and strength to turn them into opportunities to demonstrate loyal devotion.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10)
You are a former enemy that has been reconciled! Praise God and take real action in your life that broadcasts to the world the One to whom you are resolutely loyal.