LOYALTY

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity – Proverbs 17:17

The word LOYALTY evokes a powerful sense of belonging and solidarity. With it comes the notion of wholehearted fidelity coupled with unswerving devotion and duty. Biblically, the concept of loyalty is purely relational. This means our whole being is thoroughly committed to someone by conscious choice (Jos.24:15). Such loyalty is expressed in both the divine and human realms as seen in the first two commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mk.12:29-31). “Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (Jh.15:13). “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1Jh.3:16).

God is the Epitome of Loyalty. He established the very essence of loyalty through His covenant relationship with His people: “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant LOYALTY with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations” (Dt.7:9 ESV). By covenant, God’s people are assured of His never-ending love from which no believer can ever be separated (Rom.8:35-39). Although His covenants are unilateral – He promises to fulfil them by Himself – there is still an admonition to loyalty on man’s part (Dt.8:19). God delights in loyalty rather than sacrifice (Hos.6:6). Even so, we as believers have the promise that “if we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2Tim.2:13). This is not an excuse, but an encouragement towards Loyalty.

Our primary loyalty as believers is shown in our commitment to Jesus and the gospel: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mk.8:35). Paul expressed absolute loyalty to the gospel: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes…” (Rom.1:16). As Jesus’ disciples, we demonstrate self-sacrificing allegiance to Him by following His command: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mk.8:34). But even when we fail to be completely loyal to Him, we have His assurance of loyalty to us: “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt.28:20b).

Our secondary loyalty is to our leaders and in our relationships. Ruth was the very embodiment of loyalty, complete devotion and duty to her mother-in-law: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16). David’s mighty men demonstrated unprecedented loyalty by risking their lives to quench the king’s unique thirst (2Sam.23:15-16). Paul speaks of his “loyal” companion” who labored faithfully with him (Phil.4:3). However, in the final days of his ministry, as he awaited death, some individuals, like Demas, who had ministered with him grew cold feet and abandoned him to face persecution and execution alone. Paul concluded: “Only Luke is with me” (2Tim.4:11). Luke was loyal. While undoubtedly disappointed by those who had deserted him, Paul must have been deeply comforted to know that he was not alone.

Proverbs 17:17 says that “a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” You may not know what kind of companion or friend you have until trouble comes. During seasons of adversity, you need friends you can trust and rely on. Rather than being concerned with what kinds of friends you have however, you ought to consider what kind of friend you are. What kind of fried will you be when the people you know face trouble? God, by His grace, can help you to be the kind of friend who doesn’t hide when his friends are in need. He will give you the courage to stand by them, the wisdom to know what to say, and the ability to serve with utmost loyalty.