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According to Dictionary.com, loyalty is faithful adherence to a sovereign, leader, cause, etc. To be loyal, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is to be faithful in allegiance to one’s lawful sovereign or government; or to a private person to whom faithfulness is due; or to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product. Biblehub.com defines loyalty as a profound biblical virtue that signifies steadfastness, faithfulness, and unwavering commitment to God, His commandments, and His people.

The concept of loyalty is woven throughout the Scriptures, illustrating the importance of remaining true to one’s commitments and relationships, both divine and human. During His time on earth, Christ taught severally about loyalty to God, notable among which is the Sermon on the Mount. He bluntly affirmed: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” – Matthew 6:24-25.

The world system is structured in such a way that disloyalty to God is the norm.

A World of Disloyalty and Betrayal
We are in a world where loyalty is gradually fading away, and betrayal is rife. Firstly, the world system is structured in such a way that disloyalty to God is the norm. Christ made it clear that we cannot serve two masters at the same time (Matthew 6:24-25). But the reverse is the case with the natural man – trying to please God and ‘gods’ at the same time. The Apostle Paul also queried men’s quest for worshipping the creature rather than the Creator: “Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1:25). This, they do by shifting their loyalty and allegiance from God to man or things.

Many pursue riches, wealth, power, fame, and fashion in place of God in their lives.

We find this in day-to-day life as many pursue riches, wealth, power, fame, and fashion in place of God in their lives. According to Scriptures, everything was created to bring pleasure to God. One of such Scriptures is in Revelation 4:11: “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory, honour and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created”. Any deviation from this is a breach in our allegiance to Him.

The Price of Loyalty to Christ
In choosing to be loyal to Jesus, you automatically become an enemy of the world. From persecution to deprivation of your rights, and even unto death, the world goes all out against those who will remain loyal to Jesus. Jesus clearly stated this in His teaching on the Mount. He said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake” – Matthew 5:11-12. In a similar vein, He told us to: “Beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:17, 22).

From persecution to deprivation of your rights, and even unto death, the world goes all out against those who will remain loyal to Jesus.

The Apostles and Prophets Paid the Price
Men of old all paid this supreme, but rewarding price of remaining loyal to God even in the face of death. The three Hebrew young men in Babylon were ready to face the fury of King Nebuchadnezzar’s fire rather than compromising their loyalty to the living God. Daniel risked being thrown into the lion’s den rather than ceding his loyalty to God. The book of Hebrews summarizes the price of loyalty to God:
“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” – Hebrews 11:35-38.

Little wonder, Jesus cautioned His disciples to count the cost before setting out to follow Him:
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.” – Luke 14:26-30.

You and I are not exempt from this – your loyalty to Jesus will cost you. The day you signed up for Christ, you signed up for a life of utmost and absolute unconditional loyalty.

The Price for Us Today
Even though the Prophets and Apostles of old had done their part, the price continues today. You and I are not exempt from this – your loyalty to Jesus will cost you. The day you signed up for Christ, you signed up for a life of utmost and absolute unconditional loyalty. Indeed, our loyalty to Christ will be tested from time to time. Like Jesus asked Peter at the Sea of Tiberias, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15b). This same question stares us in the face today as we go about our daily activities. And our actions – either for or against our loyalty to Jesus are a direct answer to this question. In the event of deprivation of your rights – promotion, admission into a tertiary institution, job offer, or the loss of other ‘juicy’ opportunities due to your loyalty to Jesus, what would you do? Stay
true or sell out? Do you love Jesus more than your boss? How about your job? Why change your age, name, place of origin, or faith, just to retain your name in a mortal man’s payroll? What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

If we remain true to Jesus even in the face of daunting persecution and suffering, we will be rewarded.

The Prize of Loyalty to Christ
It is clear throughout Scriptures that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Worthy of note is the fact that if we remain true to Jesus even in the face of daunting persecution and suffering, we will be rewarded. The Apostle Paul captured this in his letter to the Churches at several points in time in his life.

To the Roman Christians, he wrote: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

To the Corinthian believers, he exhorted: “For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT).

These Scriptures speak about the weight of glory that awaits the faithful Christian, and which can be in no way compared to the temporary trials we face for remaining loyal to Christ.

To brother Timothy, he testified: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His righteous return (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

During His sermon on the Mount, Christ charged the disciples to rejoice and be exceedingly glad
when persecuted for His sake because their reward would be great in heaven (Matthew 5:11-
12).

Writing to the Church in Smyrna, Christ encouraged them to be faithful until death, and
they would receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10b).

Indeed, the prize of staying true to Jesus far outweighs the price we might have to pay.

Indeed, the prize of staying true to Jesus far outweighs the price we might have to pay. Are you
experiencing difficulties right now because you refuse to compromise your faith? Rejoice,
because this is nothing compared to the glory prepared for you. Are you torn between two
opinions – Jesus or the world? The wages of sin is still death, and Satan’s threefold mission is to
steal, to kill, and to destroy, but Christ came that we might have abundant life. Therefore, the
one to whom you pay loyalty will determine how and where you’ll end.

Be blessed!

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