In Proverbs 20:6, a piercing question is asked. "Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?"

What does it mean to be faithful? Loyal may be a more familiar word. To be faithful means to maintain allegiance, to be constant. Loyalty is defined as faithfulness. To maintain or be constant requires deep commitment and strong character. Faithfulness is taking the high road of self-denial rather than the low road of self-indulgence.

The fact that Scripture asks such a question about finding a faithful person denotes that faithfulness is somewhat rare.

Faithfulness is illustrated often in the Bible. We read of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. The pagan king had built a huge statue and required all the people to bow down to it. The penalty for disobedience to the king's command was death in a fiery furnace.

These three men refused, and their statement was, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).

These men were constant in allegiance to the living God of heaven. They had no guarantee of God's deliverance, but even if it meant death, they were determined to be faithful.

Daniel had a similar circumstance, in chapter 6, when ordered not to pray to Almighty God. The penalty was certain death in a den of lions. Daniel defied the order and prayed to God. He was thrown into the lion's den. God delivered him by closing the lions' mouths. Daniel was faithful to God even when faced with death.

Being faithful always involves a choice. There is almost always a cost involved. It may not be death, but it will require self-denial and sacrifice.

Faithfulness may not be applauded in this life. The three men who defied the king's order and ended up in the furnace were convinced of life after death, and they looked forward to sure rewards and a better life with God in heaven, in the event that God did not intervene on their behalf.

Early Christians were martyred for their faithfulness to Christ. They, too, looked for a better life.

There is life after physical death. Every person will spend eternity somewhere, either with God in heaven or with Satan in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10, 15).

Faithfulness by itself will not deliver you into heaven. Faithfulness coupled with faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ will.

Nothing pleases God more than a faith-filled child of His living a faithful life. Let us be found as faithful people.