Faithfulness and Infidelity Feb 12 2020

What does this picture mean? Longing for a lasting relationship. For a bond that will never break.

This couple hopes for fidelity.

Like this one.

Unfortunately, many relationships start like a boat on the left. And it ends in the middle.

Oh, faithfulness between brothers! Together they went on a journey (our sons). But what is the interesting inscription on the right?

Fidelity. Faithfulness. One of the largest investment funds encourages with its loyalty.

Two letters on the flag, CO.

We would like to experience loyalty in enterprises, small or large.

And in friendship.

We are looking for loyalty.

Maybe we’ll find a signpost in all-time bestseller ?! Here is a quote from the Gospel of St. Luke:

2 The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. 3 And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. 4 And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. (Gospel of Luke 22*)

Probably the biggest case of infidelity in history – the betrayal of Judas. Religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus when there were no crowds with him. Judas promised to help. We continue reading Luke’s account:

7 Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. … 14 When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. … 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. 21 “But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table … 23 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing. (Gospel of Luke 22*)

The atmosphere at the table became tense, because Jesus announced that one of the disciples would betray him. An interesting thing is that none of them was sure of their loyalty. They didn’t know what they could do. The best material, specially selected people, and each of them wonders if this will happen to him. And indeed, soon one of them, Peter, will deny his acquaintance with Christ, and the others, except one, will flee. Usually, the problem of infidelity was concentrated in people like Judas. But the problem of infidelity … was it common? Let St. Paul and Letter to Romans speak to us:

12 “ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” 13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS .” (Letter to Romans 3*)

Everybody. The problem is common, it concerns all of us. Faithfulness is not our strength. Infidelity, betrayal – we are lined with it. This is our nature. The solution to this problem, a weak point in us, is not to convince ourselves that it is different, that we will try very hard. “I decide to be faithful.” How often it turns out to be laughable that I might as well decide that if I jump out of the window, I will not fall to the ground. Although no one gets married intending to betray, and at the time of establishing the company such an intention would not be normal. And yet…

Is it possible at all to change and become faithful? Is there a way to do this? Let’s return to the table in the Upper Room and to Jesus’ statement:

20 … “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant … (Gospel of Luke 22*)

Jesus Christ builds a language of symbols and meanings here, through which he communicates to man a unique path to faithfulness, completely different from the previous ones. What does the new sign indicate? For a covenant, or contract. On the possibility of a new agreement between man and God. It is a work contract, a contract that God will do something. What can God do? This is stated in the contract, the promise from the Book of Jeremiah:

40 “I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. (Book of Jeremiah 32)

Man is weak, material is weak. But God obliges himself to do it. He has every opportunity to change the human heart, which is the seat of motivation and make it faithful, make him not get out of the way.

But when does God do that? How do you get something from God? This is stated in another provision of the contract – St. Paul, Epistle to Ephesians:

8 For by grace you have been savedthroughfaith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that noone may boast. (Letter to Ephesians 2)

There is one word in the contract that says how you get something from God. What word is that? Faith. “By faith.” We need to trust. God has committed himself in the contract to deal with our infidelity, we just need to trust.

To trust Him is to stop trusting … that I will solve this problem myself, through my own efforts. You have to turn away from trusting yourself. And trust God. However, man trusts himself. He decides to be faithful. Makes strong resolutions. It is not trust in God. It is self-confidence. You need to divert trust from yourself, from the hope that I can manage it, from my own promises of improvement.

The exact opposite is needed. Admitting that I can’t do it alone. That is why I completely transfer my trust to Him. And when it is a radical decision, tailored to a 180 degree change, God will answer according to the agreement. He will change the heart. He will make it faithful. This is the only fully effective way of our infidelity.

Maybe thought is revolutionary, but on this truth Christianity developed and changed the state of the world. It revolutionized relationships. A new foundation of loyalty has been realized.

Infidelity is part of our nature, but God Himself comes and says, “I have a way. I will make you faithful. You’ll never turn back in your heart. But you must agree to the operation. I won’t do it against you. You have the right to choose.”

“Yes, God, do it. I want you to make me faithful. Touch my heart. I trust in You.” This is how the foundation of loyalty is created.

Then our minds need to keep up. Because it does not automatically mean that we will prove faithful in marriage, business and friendship. But there is a foundation.

So should you hang padlocks on bridges? Is the wedding still needed? Should we sign contracts and support them with banquets? Yes. If there is a foundation, these are helpful means for the mind to keep up with the heart.

Gregory Bednarczyk