Our reading is Genesis 22:1-12. This story does not stand alone. It really began in the twelfth chapter of Genesis, where God made a covenant with Abram. Abram, now Abraham, was seventy-five years old when God promised to bless him and make his descendants into a great nation. It must have been an exciting day for Abraham. The problem was that God works in God’s own time. Twenty-five years later, Abraham and his wife Sarah welcomed their first child into the world. They named him Isaac. Abraham and Sarah loved Isaac deeply, which makes our reading so uncomfortable. According to the Scriptures, God decided to test Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. I am happy to report that, in the end, Abraham passed the test and Isaac lived. Abraham proved that he was truly faithful. He set aside his own plans for his life and submitted to God’s will. He was not the only one in the Bible to do so. There were many others.

How many examples do you need? Moses, who did not want to return to Egypt, did so and helped liberate the Israelites. Daniel refused to abandon his faith despite the threat of the lions’ den. David remained faithful to God when he faced the giant Goliath. Noah built the ark despite unseen danger and the skepticism of those around him. Esther risked her position and safety to save her people from destruction. Mary, the mother of Jesus, set aside her own plans and accepted God’s call to bear the Christ child. The Apostle Paul left his promising career as a Pharisee to become an apostle of Jesus Christ. The ultimate example of faithfulness is Jesus himself, who died on the cross for the sins of the world. Each of these individuals set aside their own plans and submitted to God’s will. That is not an easy thing to do.

Many people in our time do not understand the true meaning of faithfulness. Faith is not a magic wand that grants the desires of your heart. For example, you pray for a sick loved one, and they are healed. Faith is not a collection of spiritual beliefs. Many of our beliefs are grounded in opinion rather than Scripture. Faith is not merely believing in the existence of God. Even Satan believes that God exists. Faith is not a tool to rally support at a political convention or during a time of military conflict. Faith is replacing your agenda for your life with God’s will. That is not an easy thing to do. If you doubt it, then look at the story of Abraham and Isaac.

Rick Warren (born 1954) is an American evangelical pastor and author. As the founder of Saddleback Church in California, he gained national attention with his bestselling book, The Purpose Driven Life. Warren argues that on Judgment Day, we will stand before God and be evaluated on our faithfulness. For that reason, he believes everyone should honestly examine whether they are living a faithful life. If not, some corrections may be needed. To help people evaluate their faithfulness, Warren developed a simple quiz on the subject. Here is his quiz:

Do you possess the right values? Life is a precious gift. Do you spend your time pursuing what is truly important, or do you waste it on trivial things? Faithful people keep their eyes fixed on God. They understand that success is not measured by wealth, power, popularity, or possessions, but by obedience to God’s will.

Do you care about the interests of others? More specifically, do you care about the needs of others, or are you preoccupied with yourself? Faithful people live compassionate lives. They understand that God calls them to love their neighbors, serve those in need, and put the welfare of others ahead of their own comfort and convenience.

Do you live with integrity before an unbelieving world? Your life is your greatest witness. Are you living in a way that attracts people to God, or are you living in a way that confuses them about God? Faithful people live with integrity. Their words match their actions, and their lives encourage others to see the goodness and grace of God.

Do you keep your promises? In other words, are you as good as your word, or do the people in your life find you undependable? Faithful people are dependable because they respect others and honor their commitments.

Do you develop your God-given gifts? God has given everyone a gift. Are you using that gift, or are you wasting it? Faithful people are a positive influence because they use their God-given abilities to bless others and glorify God.

Do you obey God’s commandments? There is no such thing as ignorance of God’s law. Most people know what God expects. Do you love God? Do you love other people unconditionally? Faithful people are obedient.

Do you pass on what you have learned? This question is not about reliving the “good old days.” Most people are less interested in your past accomplishments than in what those experiences have taught you about God. Are you sharing those lessons with others? Faithful people share their wisdom.

So, how did you do on the quiz? Are you living a faithful life, or is there room for improvement? It is better to discover the answer today than on Judgment Day. Is God the driving force in your life, or are your own interests occupying most of your attention? God calls each of us to live faithfully and to trust his will above our own.

Years ago, a group of United States senators visited Mother Teresa (1910-1997) in Calcutta, India, at the so-called “House of Dying.” It was filled with sick children in their last days and hundreds of others receiving medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to them, the senators were overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers faced daily. One senator asked, “How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?” Mother Teresa replied, “My dear senator, I am not called to be successful. I am called to be faithful.”

I will be the first to admit it. For many years in ministry, I was focused on being successful. It was only near the end of my career that I learned my success did not really matter. What mattered was faithfulness. I have decided to spend the rest of my life striving to be faithful to God and his calling. The great reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) once said, “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.” How faithful are you?