Remaining Faithful

According to the Google Books Ngram Viewer, the word “faithfulness” within books has rapidly declined since 1836. I wonder if that mirrors the act of faithfulness within culture too? Has that declined? 

Whether faithfulness in relationships, friendships, or faithfulness in say, phone contracts or car contracts, most things now come with an opt-out option. If we don’t enjoy something or it doesn’t meet our expectations, we can easily tap out- even though it often requires hours of listening to horrendous continuous hold music. 

This verse is towards the end of Samuel's farewell speech. Israel had got what they wanted, a king- Saul. Running up to this absolute mic drop of a verse, it is littered with examples of Samuel's faithfulness to the people. He gives them an open door to scrutinise him for any wrongs during his time as Israel’s judge. They couldn’t fault him but acknowledged he had never cheated, oppressed, or stolen from them.

Faithfulness can’t be a part-time choice. It needs to be a whole-hearted, full-time commitment. This is the kind of faithfulness that God extends to us, each and every day, and the kind of faithfulness at our best we extend to others.