Are you being Loyal?

Probing Proverbs: 3:3-4 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.

In Venice there was a law forbidding the erection of monuments in the public streets to people who had sacrificed anything for the good of the State. The reason for this was that all Venetians were supposed to be filled with loyalty, and that, therefore, the erection of such monuments was a reflection on others who were equally ready to sacrifice themselves for the good of the State should opportunity arise.

On the other hand, it was held that treason and disloyalty must prove so rare that only to the infamous was publicity to be given. “Tomes of infamy” were therefore erected in public places to record the deeds of betrayers and dishonest citizens. And the smallness of the number testifies that the Venetians’ claim of the loyalty of their citizens was no idle boast.

—James Burns^[1]

What does it mean to be “Loyal?” Here is a simple definition from the dictionary:

Unswerving in allegiance: as

a :  faithful in allegiance to one's lawful sovereign or government

b :  faithful to a private person to whom fidelity is due

c :  faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product

There is no doubt that loyalty is an important and attractive characteristic. I have found the BIG question that needs to be addressed is…what are you loyal to? Some today think loyalty means sticking with something no matter how wrong it may be. That is not Biblical. For example, my father was a great patriot and raised me to love my country. My loyalty however is not so much to the USA, but to Truth. Therefore, I will be faithful to the USA as long as it stands on the Truth. I think the USA has been a great country, but not when we stated that “all men were created equal, while saying a black person was only 5/6ths a soul. We were wrong and should just confess that. 

I cannot support “America, right or wrong” when we were kidnapping an entire people from another country and selling them into bondage. "I can be proud when I know that thousands of young Americans, black and white alike, fought together and died to end that plague on our history."

It is interesting that this original word for “loyalty” (חֶסֶד {ḥesed}) is also translated “steadfast love”. How appropriate, because that is what real loyalty is – a commitment to be faithful to love. Loyalty when practiced Biblically means to faithfully love, which includes every kind of love. Whether it be supportive love, sustaining love, sacrificial love and even “tough love”. Be careful with that term. So many in the Church approach “tough love” from the shame perspective, not the admonishment perspective. If the one you are loyal to is in sin, being loyal is not turning a blind eye to it. It is lovingly offering alternatives to that sin, explaining confession and repentance, and a willingness to help restore – that is admonishment. Shame only states the obvious – “You are wrong!” No guidance or support. 

Tough love always communicates to a fallen person that you are “for” them, both in word and action. I have witnessed and personally experienced someone saying they love, while their actions prove that they do not. They already know you think they are wrong, that is why you are being confronted. Let the Holy Spirit create the shame they need, you just be faithful to love in word and action. Tough love begins with thinking through, “what does restoration look like?” To be truly loyal to anyone you care for means being loyal to God, His Truth and wanting His best for this person!

The so what? 

Have you ever been confronted? What did that look like? What did it accomplish in your life? Have you ever considered that when the Lord confronts us about our sin, His goal is salvation, not shame? Do you operate from shame or from admonition when you must show tough love?

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^[1] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.