King Solomon lays out two of the most important things a person can have in life- love and faithfulness. Paul also reiterated this in 1 Corinthians 13:13 when he wrote, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Opening Text

Proverbs 3:3-4, “3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”

Definitions

  1. Love: To have strong emotion, self-sacrifice, and dedication to someone.
  2. Faithfulness: To be committed, dedicated, and trustworthy to someone.
  3. Never Leave You: Always have them with you.
  4. Bind Them Around Your Neck: Wear them like a necklace for you and all to see.
  5. Write Them On Your Heart: Hide them deep within your thoughts, to the core of your being, and be consistent with who you are both in public and private.
  6. Win Favor: To have unprecedented and uncommon opportunities to succeed.
  7. A Good Name: The positive impression and reputation people have of who you are.
  8. In the Sight of God and Man: You will be honored by God and man- both in heaven and here on earth.

What Proverbs Says About Love and Faithfulness

  1. Love and faithfulness are the fruit of a good plan, Prov. 14:22
  2. Sin is atoned for by love and faithfulness, Prov. 16:6
  3. Love and faithfulness keep a King and his kingdom safe, Prov. 20:28

How to Love

  1. Love God by worshipping Him (John 4:23) & keeping His commands (John 14:15).
  2. Love people by helping them in their times of need (1 John 3:17-18) & preaching the Gospel to them (1 Cor. 9:16).

The result of love… “love covers all wrongs,” Prov. 10:12.

How to Be Faithful

  1. Be faithful to God by doing what He commanded & remaining to the end, Matthew 24:45 & Matt. 25:21.
  2. Be faithful to man by doing what you said & being reliable, Phil. 2:22 & Prov. 20:6.

The result of faithfulness is fruitfulness, John 15:5, “If I am faithful, then God will make me fruitful.”

  • If I am faithful to my spouse, then God will make me fruitful in my marriage.
  • If I am faithful to look for a job, then God will make me fruitful in finding employment.
  • If I am faithful on my job, then God will make me fruitful in my occupation.
  • If I am faithful to my church, then God will make me fruitful in my ministry.
  • If I am faithful in my studies, then God will make me fruitful in my grades.
  • If I am faithful to my friends, then God will make me fruitful in my friendships.
  • If I am faithful to God in my tithes and offerings, then God will make me fruitful in finances.
  • If I am faithful to share my faith, then God will make me fruitful in soul winning.
  • If am faithful with soul winning, then God will make me fruitful in discipleship.

Examples of Faithfulness & Extras:

  1. A faithful person is blessed, Prov. 28:20
  2. Those given other’s trust must be faithful, 1 Cor. 4:2
  3. Timothy was faithful to Paul and the ministry, 1 Cor. 4:17
  4. Tychicus was faithful to tell everything God had told him, Eph 6:21
  5. Epaphras was a faithful minister to his home church in Colossae, Col. 1:7
  6. Onesimus was faithful to tell everything God was going in Paul’s ministry, Col. 4:9
  7. Silas was faithful to the family of God, 1 Pet. 5:12
  8. All disciples are to be faithful unto death, Rev. 2:10