Introduction
Faithfulness is a fundamental principle in the Bible that holds the key to unlocking God’s blessings in our lives. Biblical principles are spiritual laws that serve as the foundation for receiving God’s promises. These divine ordinances govern the spiritual realm, meaning they must be followed for God’s blessings and promises to manifest in the physical world. Many Christians overlook the significance of these principles, failing to understand that they are essential for overcoming life’s battles, struggles, and obstacles. One of the most neglected principles among believers is faithfulness.
Specifically, financial struggles often stem from a lack of faithfulness. For example, when a believer is entrusted with a project or responsibility and fails to be faithful, they risk losing their blessing and forfeiting the breakthrough God has prepared for them. Such losses come despite the revelation that all believers in Christ are the spiritual descendants of Abraham and, therefore, heirs to the Abrahamic blessings. While God has blessed His people in many ways, a lack of faithfulness in all areas of life can jeopardize the inheritance of these blessings.
From the case of Jacob and the house of Israel, Scripture demonstrates that faithfulness is a prerequisite for receiving God’s inheritance. Those who fail to be good stewards of what God has given them risk losing even what they already have. However, those who remain faithful with what they are entrusted with will see an increase in their blessings.
The Principle of Faithfulness
The principle of faithfulness involves being a good steward of the resources and responsibilities entrusted to us. Jesus, our perfect teacher, illustrates this through His parables, which we understand more fully through the Holy Spirit. One such parable is the story of the shrewd manager, found in Luke 16, which vividly demonstrates the importance of faithfulness in stewardship.
The parable of the shrewd manager
In the parable, Jesus tells of a rich man’s manager who was accused of mismanaging his master’s assets. As a result, the manager was called to give an account of his stewardship and was at risk of losing his job. In a clever move, the manager reduced the debts owed by various debtors, paying some of them himself to settle the accounts and balance the books. Even though the business owner recognized that the manager had defrauded him, he still praised the manager for his shrewdness in handling the situation.
Jesus used this parable to contrast the behavior of worldly people with that of the children of God. He pointed out that those in the world often display more shrewdness and resourcefulness when it comes to managing earthly wealth, while the children of God may lack the same wisdom in managing spiritual matters. Through this parable, Jesus urged His disciples to use earthly wealth wisely, not as an end in itself, but as a tool to build relationships and demonstrate their friendship with God.
The Principle of Faithfulness in Stewardship
In the context of faithfulness, Jesus teaches a powerful lesson in Luke 16:10-12. He says, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” In other words, the way we handle small responsibilities reflects how we would handle greater ones. If we are not trustworthy with little things, it is unlikely we will be trusted with more significant matters.
In verse 11, Jesus further explains, “If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” Here, Jesus emphasizes that if we cannot manage the material wealth of this world, which is temporary and fleeting, how can we expect God to trust us with eternal, spiritual riches? Earthly wealth is often referred to as “unrighteous mammon” because it is worldly and can easily lead to corruption. Yet, God tests our faithfulness through our relationship with it.
Verse 12 continues, “And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” Jesus stresses that if we are not faithful in managing the resources entrusted to us by others—whether in the form of finances, opportunities, or responsibilities—how can we expect to receive our own blessings or inheritance? Our ability to manage well what belongs to others is a key indicator of our readiness to handle our own.
Finally, Jesus concludes this teaching with a strong statement: “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” This illustrates that our loyalty and faithfulness cannot be divided. We cannot serve both God and money, as they represent two conflicting priorities. True faithfulness to God requires undivided devotion, where material wealth does not become our master or distract us from spiritual commitments.
Defining Faithfulness
Faithfulness is more than just being reliable; it involves demonstrating honesty, integrity, and responsibility in everything we are entrusted with. Whether large or small, the responsibilities we are given serve as tests that reveal our credibility as the children of light. These tests are not merely for worldly gain, but they prove our worthiness for God’s blessings, which are often tied to how we manage what has been given to us.
When we fail this test through unfaithfulness—just like the shrewd manager in the parable of Luke 16—we risk losing the eternal riches that are our inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus’ teachings in this context remind us that if we cannot be trusted with the small things, such as an investment, project, business, academics, or a relationship, then God cannot entrust us with greater blessings. If we prove unfaithful in the little responsibilities given to us, we disqualify ourselves from receiving the larger blessings God has in store.
Many believers struggle with this test repeatedly. They wonder why there are delays in their breakthroughs, finances, careers, or marriages. The answer often lies in their ability (or lack thereof) to demonstrate faithfulness in the small things. Once they begin to show true faithfulness, God begins to open the windows of heaven, releasing spiritual blessings and divine favor in every area of their lives.
Jacob and the House of Israel
Jacob and Laban
The story of Jacob and Laban is a powerful example of unfaithfulness and its consequences. This biblical narrative also foreshadows the delays and struggles that would later affect Joseph and the Israelites. After many years of faithful service in Laban’s house, Jacob finally demanded to be paid for his labor, seeking to return to his homeland.
In Genesis 30:27, Laban reveals that, through divination, he has learned that the blessings of the Lord are upon him because of Jacob. Laban then asks Jacob to name his price, but Jacob does not ask for anything. Instead, Jacob cleverly devises a plan to gain wealth by creating separate flocks for himself, removing them from Laban’s herd. In his shrewdness, Jacob ensured that the weaker animals remained with Laban, while the stronger animals became his own. As a result, Jacob’s wealth increased, and he became prosperous, owning large flocks, camels, donkeys, and both male and female servants (Genesis 30:40-43).
When Laban discovered Jacob’s dishonesty, his attitude toward him changed. Jacob, in turn, deceived Laban by secretly fleeing without informing him of his departure. So, Jacob ran away with all that he had (Genesis 31:21).
In Genesis 31:43, Laban pursues Jacob and confronts him, reminding him that everything Jacob owns—his wives, flocks, and possessions—rightfully belongs to Laban. Laban then proposes a covenant with Jacob. Jacob believed that he had been a faithful servant and deserved to be paid, yet he felt that his master, Laban, had taken advantage of him. This belief had some merit, as Jacob’s work certainly deserved its pay. However, Jacob did not truly earn all that he had in a righteous manner—his wealth was accumulated through scheming and shrewdness rather than genuine faithfulness.
Jacob would later realize that all he had gained would be lost because of his lack of faithfulness. Because Jacob could not demonstrate true faithfulness in Laban’s house, God was not able to trust him—or the nation of Israel—with the wealth that would be given to Egypt. Jacob’s sons ultimately ended up in captivity in Egypt after the death of Joseph, highlighting the long-term consequences of unfaithfulness.
The Israelites and Egypt
Ideally, the anointing and blessing upon Jacob positioned his family to be trusted with great wealth, especially when famine struck the entire world. In Genesis 41:56-57, a severe famine spread throughout Egypt, and people from all over the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph.
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he sent his ten sons to purchase food to ensure their survival. Despite the blessings and prosperity that rested upon Jacob’s house, God could not entrust such wisdom and provisions to Jacob’s sons. Instead, it was through Joseph that the wealth and food were made available in Egypt. At that time, Egypt was the richest nation in the world, yet it was not God’s chosen people. Because of the unfaithfulness demonstrated in the house of Laban, the favor and blessing that could have been entrusted to Jacob’s family were instead given to Egypt. This reflects how unfaithfulness can hinder the flow of God’s blessings and divine favor, preventing God’s chosen people from receiving the full measure of His provision.
The Faithfulness of Joseph
Unlike his father Jacob, Joseph demonstrates true faithfulness in the house of his master, Potiphar. The Lord was with Joseph, and as a result, he prospered. Potiphar recognized God’s favor on Joseph and placed him in charge of his entire household. God’s blessings poured out on everything under Joseph’s care. Unlike Jacob, Joseph was faithful. He did not concern himself with anything in his master’s house except the food he ate.
Even when Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him, Joseph refused, declaring that he could not commit such a wicked act and sin against God (Genesis 39:2-9). As a result, God granted Joseph favor even in prison, where he was placed in charge of all the other prisoners. The Lord gave Joseph success in everything he did. Joseph’s faithfulness exemplifies a different story of prosperity and inheritance.
Consequences of Jacob’s Unfaithfulness to Israel
Even though Israel prospered under Joseph’s tenure, the consequences of Jacob’s unfaithfulness in the house of Laban became evident. The Israelites found themselves in a situation similar to that of Jacob’s sons.
In Exodus 1:8, the Scripture states, “Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.” In Exodus 1:10, the king says, “Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” As a result, the Egyptians enslaved the Israelites and oppressed them with forced labor. In this passage, it is clear that the tactics used by Jacob in Laban’s house to weaken the flock are strikingly similar to the plot of the Egyptians against the Israelites, aimed at weakening them. The difference, however, is that the more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they multiplied and grew in number.
These portions of Scripture are deeply insightful and reveal powerful spiritual truths. In this case, the evil tactics that Jacob employed as a servant in Laban’s house were repaid with evil against the Israelites when they were enslaved in Egypt. The same principle applies in our daily lives. The schemes we use in workplaces, companies, businesses, and relationships will inevitably come back to us, often with greater consequences.
If you demonstrate unfaithfulness in any job, institution, or relationship, this spirit of unfaithfulness will haunt you in the future, affecting everything you set your hands to do. You may devise schemes to increase your salary, pension, commission, or to lower your loans and succeed. However, such worldly shrewdness—the tactics of the children of darkness—will never leave your house. The unfaithfulness you sow will be reaped in your next job, company, or opportunity. It may be time for you to repent and turn away from these worldly ways of doing things. True prosperity and blessings come through faithfulness, not through deceit or manipulation.
Conclusion
The case study of Jacob and the house of Israel illustrates the profound importance of faithfulness in stewardship and its direct connection to receiving God’s blessings and inheritance. Throughout the narrative, Jacob’s unfaithfulness in managing his responsibilities, particularly in his dealings with Laban, serves as a cautionary tale. Despite the blessings of the Lord upon him, Jacob’s shrewdness and deceit ultimately hindered his ability to receive the fullness of God’s provision. His actions not only affected his personal prosperity but also had long-term consequences for his descendants, particularly the Israelites, who later faced oppression in Egypt.
In contrast, Joseph’s faithfulness, even in the face of temptation and adversity, set him apart and ultimately led to his prosperity and elevation, despite the challenges he faced. His story underscores the principle that faithfulness in small things leads to greater trust and blessings from God. The Bible teaches that unfaithfulness, whether in financial dealings, relationships, or responsibilities, will prevent God’s favor from flowing freely into our lives.
Faithful stewardship is the key to unlocking God’s promises in your life. If you are involved in any deceitful or phony dealings, this may be the moment God is prompting you to stop. God desires to release your breakthrough, the right investment, the right partnership, or the next step in your journey. However, these blessings will remain on hold unless you pass the test of faithfulness.
