Scripture

Proverbs 3:3-6 NRSV

Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Consider

Loyalty is a character trait that nurtures healthy relationships. To be loyal means to commit unswerving support to another person. It means standing with that person against danger or opposition, defending and sometimes sacrificing for the good of the other and the relationship.

In the proverb quoted above, the Hebrew word for “loyalty” goes even deeper. Chesed implies loyalty that is not only steadfast but also loving. Especially within a covenant relationship, our love can motivate us to loyalty that we feel so keenly, it’s like a garment tied around the neck or a rule engraved on the heart. Our loving loyalty becomes part of our very being, such that when we betray that loyalty, we injure ourselves at a deep level.

When our loyalties conflict, it usually means that different relationships are pulling us in different directions. To avoid this dilemma, the proverb instructs us to put our loyalty to God first, above every human relationship, and to lean on God’s wisdom to guide us in right ways. Because we know God is faithful and good, we can trust that our loyalty to God will never lead us to compromise our integrity or blind us to what is true or right, as can happen with human relationships.

We can practice chesed for God by seeking his presence in every aspect of our lives. We can learn to trust God’s wisdom instead of our own to make decisions and to stand firmly on the side of God when our faith is challenged. In return, God promises to make our paths straight. Through the wisdom of Scripture and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, God directs our behavior so that we can proceed with confidence, sure of our motives as we live out God’s good purpose in our relationships.

Pray

Gracious Father, I know you are faithful and good to me. I know you stand with me against the powers of evil, yet I often take your loyalty for granted. I pursue other loyalties that conflict with yours. Forgive my short-sighted and selfish behaviors that block your good desires for me. Teach me to trust you, Lord, and to know your presence in every aspect of my life.

Reflect

Psalm 25:8-10;  2 Timothy 2:11-13

Ponder

How might giving God my first loyalty help me handle a difficult relationship?