LOYALTY
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Loyalty is not a word that is used in the Old King James Version of the Bible even though the Bible has
a lot to say about people who are loyal or disloyal. From their stories we can gather that the Bible values and
rewards loyalty. You can also see what the consequences of disloyalty are.
It does not take long to see after reading God's word that Jesus Christ was a story teller. The stories were
the vehicle by which truth was ultimately brought to confront the listener. These stories were sometimes
puzzling and strange and not always pleasing. They were stories designed to make people think about honesty,
truth, faithfulness, service, sacrifice, courage, confidence, commitment, dedication and loyalty!
A few weeks ago my wife and I watched a movie on Turner Classic movies. It was a movie about all
those synonyms just used that add up to loyalty! The name of the movie was Lassie, Lassie Come Home. Most
of you have probably seen that movie when you were young and probably cried as I did.
Lassie was shown to be loyal. Most dogs have a loyalty about them. I want to draw an analogy between
a dog's loyalty and man's loyal personality. As we start talking about the loyalty of dogs. I confess to being a
dog lover. Most of my life I have had dogs to love and care for. I know some of you have dogs that you love and
care for also!
Not sure if you have heard the saying, "a dog is man's best friend" because they wag their tail's and not
their tongues." We should all be thankful for that!
Did you hear about the pastor who was invited out to lunch at a members home after preaching his
sermon, while eating he noticed a big bird dog laying in the corner keeping a sharp eye on him as he was eating.
Every time he took a bite he noticed the dog's eyes would follow him. He said to the hostess, "That is certainly
the most alert dog I have ever seen, he seems to be interested in every bite I eat." The hostess said, "That's
because you are eating out of his dinner bowl."
The more we learn about dogs, the less we think about some people. We use to say that society was going
to the dogs, but most quit saying that out of respect for the dogs. You can put poison in front of a dog and he'll
walk away from it every time. You put poison in front of a man and he'll smoke it until he gets cancer. He'll
drink it until his liver is gone and he will inhale drugs until he cooks his
brain and then he blame God for it. Dogs are smarter than that. Every dog, regardless if it registered with the
A.K.C. or just an alley dog, it will protect and defend its offspring till its death.
Dogs have more character than some people. Most dog will not bite you without a reason, yet humans
shoot one another in drive by shootings just for the recreation of it. The more we know about dogs, the less we
think of some humans.
Notice this strange verse in 2 Kings 9:36, "Therefore they came back and told him. And he said,
"this is the Word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'on the plot of ground
at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel." The dogs in this text were loyal to the commission of God, spoken
by Elijah. That commission was to eat the flesh of Jezebel, who was a witch and occultist, a radical feminist,
who controlled the government of Israel, with her manipulations, because she had a spineless husband named
Ahab.
Back to the subject of dogs having loyalty. The news is full of human life stories: "A body of an elderly
woman was found beside a road. There was no human being loyally standing by her, but there was her loyal and
faithful dog. The police of that southern city were trying to find out who she is and where she lived, not by asking
the next of kin or her friends, but by following her dog.
That says something about our society that is frightening. People have not learned to care about each
other very much. Some people find more companionship in dogs, literally, than they do in human beings.
The loyalty of dogs is further illustrated by this next true story carried in the pages of the Los Angles
Times. There was an Airedale, who owners lived on a ranch near St. Anglo, Texas. He began barking one night
just after midnight. The dog awakened the family barking furiously to awake them. The ranch house was
engulfed in flames on all sides. There was no Fire Dept near and by the time the family stumbled out the front
door the fire was too far gone to stop. With the family safely outside, the dog began running from one family
member to another, barking furiously. Seeming to feel that he must protect each of them from danger. The oldest
boy had ran around to the back of the house and into the garage to get his sports car out of the garage. And the
dog missed the boy. Not knowing the boy had gone to the garage, he ran thru the family members barking at
them, seeming to try to communicate to them the great danger. The family tried to comfort him, but he would
not be comforted. He would look into their faces and try to communicate. He would paw the ground and whine.
He would look at the fire in the house and bark at it, as if it were a monster. Suddenly, without warning the dog
leaped into the burning house, looking for the eldest son. Within seconds the house collapsed. When the fire
died down, and the embers cooled, they found the charred bones of that dog at the door of the boy's room, he
was trying to save.
That dog did not have an immortal soul. That dog was not built in the image of God. That dog was not
destined to walk the streets of gold in the New Jerusalem, yet that dog had a loyalty that demanded that he lay
down his life for his friend. Our instruction book, the Bible says, "Greater love has no man, than this, than he
lay down his life for a friend" (John 15:13).
Jesus said in John 13: 34-35, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; As I have
loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples [learners] if you have
love for one another." John 10: 10, gives meaning to that by saying, "I died for you that you might have life and
have it more abundantly." To paraphrase what our Lord said, "I want you to have this signature among all the
nations of the world wherever you go for all of the generations yet to come. I want you to be such a loving
fraternity of people, that people will want to be a part of you because of the love you have, one for the other."
In the beatitudes of Matthew 5 are followed by a summary statement in verse 13, "You are the salt of
the earth." Salt represents a true covenant of loyalty. In the ancient times salt was precious. Workers and
soldiers were paid in salt. If you were a poor worker or soldier, people would say, "You're not worth your salt."
Jesus continues to tells us in Matthew 5:13, "If the salt loses its saltiness, it is good for nothing but to be cast out
and trodden under foot."
Salt in history has been shown to be used in doing business. Here's how that worked. If you and I are
entering into a contract, during Bible times, each of us would wear a salt pouch because we would take salt
periodically for the same reason construction workers today take salt pills. When working in the suns heat all
day you can quickly dehydrate, taking salt helps you to retain water.
Notice now at the business end of salt. If we were entering into a contract, you would open your pouch
of salt and the other person would open his. Then they would take salt out of their pouch and put it into the other
persons - and visa versa. When this was done as they recited the content of the covenant, they would shake it
up - mixing it together. The only way the contract could be broken was for each to get back their exact grains
of salt, which was an impossibility. It was a covenant contract of loyalty. So salt is a symbol of loyalty and
worth. There is a article on salt in the 2012 Jan / Feb "Prove All Things" magazine, written by Pete Fleming.
The point about salt is this: If you lose your ability to be loyal, you're worthless. You have no value now. Nor
will you in the kingdom of God. Eating together of God's word in the Bible was and is today an act of loyalty.
If dogs can be loyal, why can't we? It is time to act like Christians. It is time to talk like Christians. It is
time to think like Christians. Loyalty in the American family today is a word that has gone to the wind. The
loyal breakdown of society can be traced to the breakdown of the home. The home is where we learn how to
function in society. It is where we learn discipline and responsibility.
As Christians we need to be loyal to teaching the great principles and truths of God's word to our
children and prepare them to live a life for God's glory! In stead, we find child abuse has become a national
dilemma in America. We find 51% of the marriages in America end in divorce. Mothers desert their children.
Fathers abuse their children. Child abuse is an American tragedy. 4,000 babies every day are murdered in the
wombs of their mother. If a child cannot have loyalty in the womb of its mother, where can it find loyalty?
We often read of fathers who will not work to support their wives or support their children. Even the
Attorney Generals of large states calls them dead-beat dads. We know they are worse then that. God says, the
man that will not work to support his family and provide for his own is worse than a infidel. God means by that
- go to work!
The death of loyalty in America as citizens, seems like people are not loyal to each other any more. There
was a day when you could conduct business in these United States with a hand shake. But not today, loyalty has
lost its meaning in America. People are not loyal to God. They are loyal to something called the new age of
pleasure. Secular humanism has become the philosophy of the public school system. For the past 30 years
materialism has become peoples god. The thought has become, if it feels good, do it, regardless of what the word
of God says. Regardless of what morality has to do with it. If you want to do it, do it.
Its pretty clear loyalty has lost its meaning. people are no longer loyal to God or one another. They show
their loyalty to stars! Rock stars, athletic stars, movie stars! But not to our star, Jesus the Christ, and our Father
in heaven !
What does loyalty look like? What does loyalty sound like? Where is the portrait of loyalty? Loyalty is
Abraham walking towards Mt. Moriah, with Isaac to sacrifice his only son, as an expression of loyalty and love
to Jehovah God. That's real loyalty!!
Loyalty is Ruth saying in Ruth 1: 16, "Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following after you.
For where you go I will go, where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.
Where you die, there will I die and I will be buried there." That's what loyalty sounds like. Loyalty is a marriage
that last thru thick and thin! Till death do us part. That's becoming a modern day miracle, a marriage that
lasts a life time.
The Apostle Paul was a great example of loyalty. From the moment he met Christ on the road
to Damascus, till he lost his head in Rome -Paul was loyal! He could have saved himself from suffering and
death. He could have been a man of fame, wealth, and honor. But Christ meant more to him than all that the
world could offer. Paul was loyal to his Lord and Savior! Paul said, "...I bear in my body the marks of the Lord
Jesus." He was in prison at the time. Having bracelets and chains wrapped around his ankles, while being in
bondage to Caesar, but his soul was free. Even though he was a prisoner of Rome, he was a free man in Christ
and Christ was his Lord and Master. He beared the marks of the Lord in his body. He could roll up his sleeve
and show the marks he received in Philippi. On his shoulders were the scars he had received when he was stoned
in Lystra. He had literally been marked for his strong faith in Christ. These were physical marks, but he carried
spiritual marks that distinguished him from others.
Jesus was an even greater example! He was loyal to His heavenly Father. Read what He prayed to His
Father. "I have glorified You on the earth: I have finished the work which You gave Me to do. And now, O
Father, glorify You Me with Your own Self with the Glory which I had with You before the world was" (John
17:4-5).
Jesus Christ had great temptations came upon Him, but nothing could turn Him aside from the purpose
of His life. He was loyal from the cradle to the grave. We must follow His example and be loyal to our heavenly
Father, from our baptism to His kingdom to come.
Loyalty is needed in our country. We may not like the way our country is being run. we may get
frustrated at the National debt and the continued wasteful spending practices. We may not like to pay the higher
taxes and many other things about our country, but it is our country to serve God in! As followers of Christ we
need to be loyal to our country! Not this worlds selfish get ways. The churches of God are to teach the opposite,
they are to teach charity, God's way is give!
Millions of people across the country have their names written in a Bible sitting on a shelf collecting dust,
but they have not allowed its teachings to be the center of their lives. Jesus Christ established the church and
was willing to die for it. Paul tells us that very clearly, "Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it"
(Eph 5:25). Too many Christians allow themselves to be over committed to the things of this world and are not
loyal to their churches. I should say, God's teachings!
In loyalty there is found rewards. Reward of greater usefulness. When a person is loyal in their business
they are promoted to a greater positions of usefulness. They have proven themselves in one area and are given
another area of responsibility. That is a Biblical principal. Notice what Jesus said, "His Lord said unto him, well
done, good and faithful servant; You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many
things: enter you into the joy of your Lord" (Matt 25:23). The message to the Smyrna church was, "Be you
faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life" (Rev.2:10).
God will reward a persons life if loyalty is seen! The reward of the Master's approval is heard with words like,
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
Paul was looking forward to meeting Christ and hearing those words. All of us would like to hear that
said of us! It is wonderful to receive awards and recognition here on earth, but nothing will compare to what God
has in store for those who have faithfully, loyally served Him. Ask, does my life bear the mark of loyalty? If
we call ourselves Christian, we should be loyal to our country, our family, our church brethren and our Lord and
Savior.
In this years Tithe and Offering letter of appreciation we sent out, is written: "As called members of the
family of God, we are part of something important. We are part of the virtuous work which God will complete,
as Paul wrote to the Phillippian church. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every
prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of
Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:3-6).
Growing in our knowledge of the truth and sticking together, with a unity in purpose, we become stronger
as individuals. King Solomon wrote about the virtue of cooperation and working together. "Two are better than
one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe
to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have
heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold
cord is not quickly broken" (Eccl 4:9-12).
This should encourage all of us! When we simply support one another and God's church by studying,
listening, watching, praying, and sharing God's weekly Sabbaths and God's annual Sabbaths together, we are
strengthening others and the church.
We pray in our heart that your participation is of vital importance to the work of the Church of God, In
Truth. Thank you for what you already do! Please continue to grow in God's grace and knowledge of truth!
Jesus Christ said to His Father, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through
Thy truth: Thy word is truth" (John 17:16-17).'
PONDER, if dogs can stand by the body of an old woman, lying dead beside the road, out of
loyalty. And if a dog can leap into fire and love until they die, why can't God's called love each other?
Why can't we demonstrate that kind of loyalty? Jesus did! And it's time for us to do it! Every thing we
do in this present life contribute to the strengthening or weakening of our character. Why is that so
important to know? Because in Christ tells us, "and, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with
Me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Rev 22:12).
James Russell