Loyalty can be defined as a relational and highly personal form of commitment. Loyalty says, “No matter what happens around us or between us there is no fear, doubt, or hurt that can make me turn my back on you.” When loyalty is present, a relationship is secure and solid. When it is not, we live in insecurity and fear. The Bible teaches that loyalty is part of the character of God himself. He expresses his loyalty by refusing to give up on us no matter how we disappoint him with our sin.
The greatest evidence of genuine friendship is loyalty being available to help in times of struggle. There is a vast difference between knowing someone well and being a true friend. Too many people are fair-weather friends. They stick around when the friendship helps them and when they’re not getting anything out of the relationship, they leave. This also happens in marriages. When the going gets tough we bail out.
This is a story of a couple I read about and I was touched. It’s about an elderly gentleman, in his 80’s. He went to a hospital at about 8.30am to have the stitches removed from his thumb. He told the nurse attending to him that, he was in a hurry as he had another appointment at 9 o’clock that morning.
While taking care of his wound, the nurse engaged him in conversation. She asked him whether he had another medical appointment that morning, as he was so much in a hurry. He said “no”, and informed her that he was going to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
She then enquired further as to his wife health and he told her that she was a victim of Alzheimer Disease and that she had been there for a while. She again asked if his wife would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him for five years now.
She was surprised and asked him. “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?” He smiled as he patted her hand and said. “She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.” The nurse had to fight back her tears as the old man left. “That is the kind of Love I want in my life.” she thought.
That is the kind of love we all want in our lives, “true love”. It is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be and will not be.
As a commitment, love is not dependent on good feelings, but rather on a consistent and courageous decision to extend oneself for the well-being of another. It is being loyal to your loved one no matter the situation.
Life is not all sweetness. Certainly all things are not good, but they work together for good. Sometimes, life throw certain things at us we feel we can’t cope and we thing about committing suicide or we give up. Remember God created you and he knows all that happens to you. He is just trying to shape you for that wonderful thing he has designed for you.
