Thursday, February 1, 2018


Foggy Wisconsin morning
(Photo by my cousin Georgia)

"Famous Or Faithful?"

Message summary: The greatest approbation we will ever receive is when we hear the words from our Lord, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2).

Today we live in a world where so many strive for fame. Some will do outrageous and often dangerous stunts to create a video they hope will become viral and be immensely popular on the internet.

Last year a couple from Minnesota found out these stunts can be truly deadly. Monalisa Perez, 19, and her boyfriend Pedro Ruiz, 22, wanted to be famous on YouTube. She fired a Desert Eagle handgun from close range, as he held an encyclopedia in front of his chest. He had experimented previously and thought the thick book would protect him by stopping the bullet, but the couple's three-year-old child and nearly 30 onlookers watched as she fired a fatal bullet.*

As God's children let us focus not on fame but faithfulness. For many years we have been blessed by this statement we saw many years ago on a church sign: "Better to be faithful than famous". Although there are some famous people who are also faithful, it occurred to me how often those whom so many recognize as "famous" are certainly not faithful. Merely consider famous names in sports, entertainment, and politics. Sadly this is also true for some who are famous in ministry for Christ.

Many of life's lessons are ingrained in our memories that have helped shape our values. I recall a lesson from my childhood.


As followers of Christ we've all been given a trust. The apostle Paul wrote, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2). We are stewards of God's truth and it is required that we be faithful. This is fundamentally expressed spiritually but in reality spiritual faithfulness is expressed in practical even the mundane ways as well.

Let us ask ourselves: Do we act in an irresponsible way when we think no one is looking? (Like I did in swimming in the farm pond!) Are we faithful to our spouse and family? Are we faithful to our church and ministry responsibilities? What about our work related duties and financial commitments?

Each of us have been given a trust and it is required by God that we prove faithful with that trust. The lies, deceit, and broken promises that characterize unfaithfulness has darkened our society and fragmented the family unit. Countless lives have been crushed due to those who have not been faithful to the trust given them.

Business owners, political figures, spiritual leaders, teachers, parents, on and on the list goes for each of us who are given a trust and we must prove ourselves faithful. We start out by being faithful in the small things whether or not someone is looking over our shoulder. Then we are entrusted with greater responsibility.

The greatest approbation we will ever receive is when we hear the words from our Lord, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).



Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we have been given a trust and desire to prove ourselves faithful in all areas of our lives as evidenced in our responsibilities carried out here on earth. Being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us involves sacrifice, humbleness, repentance, and obedience which does not come easily, but is nevertheless required. As we walk steadily with You and prayerfully apply Scriptural principles we will be found faithful. We look to You in prayer and come to You through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name we pray. Amen.


"Find us Faithful"  Video  Steve Green

"Finish Well"  Video  Karen Peck and New River

"Still"  Video   Legacy Five

"Still"  Video  Greater Vision  (Same title but different song!)

* Going viral: When YouTube stunts turn deadly