How Reliable Are We?

I wonder how the people we know think or view us? Do they think we are reliable people or would they think we are just “TALKERS” and not doers? As Christians we should be the most reliable people around, but I fear more than not that believers are getting sloppy in the area of reliability.

The definition of “RELIABILITY”  is the quality of being trustworthy or of performing consistently well. Being reliable is not being a perfect person, but being a person who intentionally works at following through on their commitments. It’s showing up at work on time, keeping appointments we have made. Being reliable means that people can “LEAN” on us to come through with what we said we would do.

James 1:22

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

My grandfather was one of the most reliable people I ever met, and he rarely used words. In fact if we were having him over for a meal, or say Christmas, and we spent maybe 4 hours together he probably spoke 4 words the whole time. Yet, I thought of him as one of the most solidly reliable people I have known because he was always helping other people. When he was into his 80s he was constantly driving people to the VA hospital a hour away, or bringing someone food who needed it. He was a very reliable person to all who knew him.

My fear is that people who define themselves as Christian often end up being just as unreliable as people who don’t know God or say they follow Christ. Our confession is more wishful thinking than it is a fact. I remember seeing a bumper sticker that said, “Christians Aren’t Perfect, They Are Just Forgiven.” This infuriated me because what they were really saying was that Christianity doesn’t change anyone. When I read my bible it says when I am born again I get transformed by that experience, and that translates into God helping me become what I could not or would not become without him. Yes, it starts with forgiveness, but it should move us to become better than we were, not stay the same. Being a Christian should mean we are following and being empowered by Jesus Christ.

One of the things that made Jesus unique among religious teachers was that he taught as one who had authority. What was it that convinced people that Jesus had authority? What did people believe this authority was?  We often embrace words and ideas from scripture, but we don’t allow these words and scriptures to transform our behavior.

Matthew 7:29 

For He (Jesus) was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Authority in this passage relates to privilege, force and capacity. In other words, Jesus was doing more than talking from an office or position. He was walking and speaking from a position of power. What was that power? It not only was the equipping of the Holy Spirit, it was his determination to walk out the ideas and concepts of God’s word, not just quote them.

This statement was made when Jesus had been in ministry for one or two years, so people could confirm that either he was a fraud, like most of the Pharisees, or he was a genuine lover of God. People were referring to more than his words or his healing. They recognized his living as reliable.

In the book of Jeremiah he called out the nation’s prophets, priests and ruling authority for failing to live what they were preaching and prophesying about.

Jeremiah 5:31 

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?

So authority can be natural or spiritual, but the important thing is whether or not a leader can be trusted. Both authorities exercise influence over people, but if not lived out by the leader the words they speak become despised words. The amazing difference is that Jesus was not directed into ministry until he had lived for 30 years as a faithful and reliable Son. He proved his principles before he spoke them. We could learn a great leason on how we should develop as well.

Mark 1:10-12 

Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.

The Holy Spirit anointed Jesus for ministry after he lived for 30 years as an ordinary man because he lived honestly and reliably. The Father in Heaven said he was well pleased, so the Holy Spirit filled him for that ministry of power and grace. Shouldn’t Jesus be our ultimate example of how a true Christ follower lives? My fear is that we are taught to memorize scripture to quote more than we are mentored to live out a reliable faith that others can trust and lean on. People look to see if our words match our lifestyle, or if we are just religious.

Is it possible that we look for authority in the flesh to demonstrate the Holy Spirit by speaking with passion, rather than looking for reliable people who speak with godly authority and who demonstrate Godly character?

The writer of the Gospel of Luke wrote to Theophilus, a noted person of authority, about the life of Jesus 30 years after the resurrection. In the beginning of the letter Luke talks about the “Reliability” of what he was writing and that his words can be trusted.

Luke 1:4 

So you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.

Let me leave you with this idea: Are the words we speak and confessions we make “Reliable,” or merely the words of someone else? Are the confessions and witness we give to believers and un-believers reliable because we have staked our lives and reputation on them, or are they mere speculation?

We can have the authority of God if God confirms that we are living truthful to our confession. I am not talking about sinless perfection or perfect behavior, but rather are we attempting to be truthful about our lifestyle and conduct to a watching world?

Questions:

1) When the word “Reliable” is spoken do you feel comfortable with the idea about your life, or does it make you feel uncomfortable? If you are uncomfortable it probably is an indication that confession and repentance are in order. (Rom 2:15)

2)  Have you ever asked people who know you if they view you as a reliable person? The true test of good friendship is honesty and if they love you they will tell you the truth. (Pr 11:3)

May the Holy Spirit help us to be reliable people,

Pastor Dale