What the Bible says about Consistency
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Proverbs 24:21 This proverb could cover even those given to political change: revolutionaries. It contains a warning because the desire to change things, to make something more convenient, efficient, or better—to suit ourselves!—is always within us. However, its source is Satan and his desires for change. It comes from the world, and we bring it into the church. It does not point the finger at anybody in particular because this desire is in everyone. Thus, we must possess a measure of restraint to stick to what we have been given until or unless we find a good reason to make a change. A few examples will expose a little bit of the mind of God about this desire to change. Answer this: "What kind of variety did the children of Israel in the wilderness receive from God in the way of food?" Very little. God cares little that we have a variety of things to eat. Why? Because stability is more important to Him than variety. Manna, of course, represents something far greater. Jesus compared it to eating the Word of God. He said, "I am the true manna that came from heaven" (see John 6:32-35, 48-51, 58). What, then, are we supposed to eat intellectually? What does God want us to feed our minds? Many of us like a tremendous amount of variety: novels, television shows, movies, endless entertainments, sports, social media, etc. That variety is influencing us constantly, filling our minds with what is little more than a lot of junk food that fails to build spiritual health. Do we grasp the principle? The same principle is at work in other areas as well. For instance, the only thing that keeps American capitalism working is constant change. Companies must continuously produce new things to spur the public to buy, to spend money. So, they keep changing the shape of automobiles, clothing fashions, food pairings, color preferences, and just about everything else. The typical person is convinced that because Detroit put a piece of chrome here and another there, the new year's model is tremendously better than last year's. Hair styles change. Facial hair is acceptible one year but not the next. Neckties go wide then thin. Pants have pleats in them, then they have flat fronts, and similar changes occur on cuffs and collars. Hats are in then hats are out. You name it—everything just keeps changing. Every change produces a little bit of instability, a little bit of doubt, a little bit of insecurity, and because this principle is working in us, we feel the need to follow the changes to feel accepted in society. We have become ignorant victims of this devilish system. God's pattern, however, is consistent: "I am the LORD, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). The most stable Being in all of the universe does not change. Conversely, we change daily, it seems, and we have a long, long way to go to become consistent. This sort of restlessness and instability led to the changes we experienced doctrinally within the church a few decades ago. Change always produces instability, which is why Solomon gives his warning: "Don't associate with those who are given to change." John W. Ritenbaugh Unity (Part 5): Ephesians 4 (B) Related Topics: Changelessness of God | Consistency | Fashion | Peace and Unity Must be on God's Terms | Political Revolt | Revolutionary

Jeremiah 5:7-8 Prophet after prophet makes similar statements. Israel has trouble being faithful to anything: God, mate, country, employer, and contracts! Our national mind runs like quicksilver from here to there—always running to get the best for the self, willing to bend in any direction to gain advantage and have our pleasure. We work very hard at this. At times, it almost seems to be in our genes! Nationally syndicated columnists Sydney J. Harris writes on the subject of reliability: Most virtues exist on a sliding scale, all the way from excellence to ineptitude, and most of us are tolerably somewhere in the middle, without too much damage to ourselves or others. But there is one virtue that is all or nothing: and that is reliability. You are either reliable or you are not; and, if not, it doesn't much matter how nearly or how often you are reliable. If I were an employer of any sort, I would be willing to put up with many kinds of personal or professional deficiencies, but never with this. A person who is not dependable is bound to fail you (and himself as well) at precisely the wrong time. It reminds me of the debonair Viennese gentlemen who, when asked, "Have you been faithful to your wife?" replied, "Frequently." It is plain that a man who is frequently faithful is not faithful at all; he might as well never be. Reliability is one of the hardest character traits to identify by testing or "screening" or anything except personal acquaintance. Some people are "rocks" by nature or training, while others are papier-maché painted to resemble rocks, who crumble when sudden pressure is applied by circumstances. If you are married to someone who cannot be depended upon to pull his or her own weight, it hardly matters what other admirable traits your mate may possess, because you can never know when or where you will be let down. It is the same as being married to an alcoholic, who is only "there" part of the time—and usually not when most needed. Consistency is what is required in the people we associate with: the confident knowledge of what we can rightfully expect of them, barring sudden illness or catastrophe beyond anyone's control. Otherwise there is no real relationship, but only a shifting accommodation to the winds of caprice and self-indulgence. It is easy to feel affection for another; what is harder is to translate this feeling into acts, daily acts, that demonstrate steadfastness of purpose in a domestic routine that may not be as dramatic as some heroic rescue, but that keeps the craft afloat no matter which way the wind happens to blow. The deepest and most important virtues are often the dullest ones; they win no medals, and get no glory; but they are the glue that binds society together and makes it work, now and always. John W. Ritenbaugh The Seventh Commandment (1997) Related Topics: Consistency | Dependability | Faithfulness | Reliability | Steadfastness

Find more Bible verses about Consistency:
Consistency {Nave's}
 

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