But the righteous shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4b, ESV)
“Trevis, I need to feel my hands high on my backswing and my right foot planted on the ground through impact.” I laced four six-irons down the range and looked back at him. “Those swings were so good,” he said. “It feels uncomfortable and hard to commit to, especially under pressure on the course,” I quipped.
Throughout the US Senior Women’s Open, I hit many good shots. I also propelled the ball in many unwanted directions. Standing on the range with Trevis, I decided to commit to these two swing feelings for Sunday…regardless of the results.
I, like most golfers, often say, “I need to have faith in my swing.” Then one lousy shot sends me grasping for something new to focus on. The downward spiral follows. My attitude turns sour, and my anger leaks out. My demeanor can disintegrate in moments.
The Hebrew word for faith in our passage today can also be accurately translated as faithfulness— the righteous shall live by faithfulness. What is the difference between faith and faithfulness?
Billy Graham says, “In the Bible, “faith” means believing in God, and in what Christ has done for us to make our salvation possible–and then committing ourselves to Him.” Faithfulness is “committing ourselves to him.” Faithfulness is putting that unfailing loyalty to God into practice regardless of extenuating circumstances.
One central theme in the book of Habakkuk is how God can use an evil nation such as Babylon for his divine purpose. That would test anyone’s faith. Habakkuk complains to God twice, and God responds with a vision. Habakkuk may not have fully understood God’s mysterious ways, but he did conclude that “the righteous shall live by his faithfulness,” especially when God seems slow to show up.
A couple of questions poking me as I think about faith and faithfulness are: 1) Is my faith in Jesus getting battered by the ways of the world and my disappointment in humanity? 2) Does my life reflect faithfulness to God (consistent introspection that leads to growth in character, values, and loyalty to God)?
I recently heard a Jewish Rabbi say, “When we get too comfortable, we tend to lose our faithfulness. When we are uncomfortable, we are more faithful.” I know I’m not paying attention when my golf swing gets too comfortable. The same is true in our spiritual lives. We must remain attentive, be humble, and renew our loyalty to God. Habakkuk found quietness in the uncomfortable and was moved toward rejoicing.
“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
On Sunday at the Senior Women’s Open, when a lousy shot slipped in, I didn’t waver, and I remained faithful to my two thoughts. I walked away, rejoicing.
Are you living by your faith and by your faithfulness?
Prayer: Lord, Father, thank you for being faithful to us. Please help us consistently practice living our lives by faithfulness to you. Do your work in us and then through us.