Proverbs 25:13

Are you a breath of fresh air to all who trust you? Do you refresh the spirits of those who depend on you, like a cool drink on a hot fall day? Are you especially a source of joy to your employer? Faithfulness is a great thing, but it is a rare thing today. There are people trusting you and depending on you, and you are a relief and pleasure to them based on the degree of your faithfulness. The lesson of the proverb is the joy created by a faithful man.

Harvest occurred in the fall in Israel. After a hot summer and all the hard work of bringing a harvest into the barns and garners, the reapers, threshers, and other workers were parched and weary. The arrival of cool weather was a wonderful relief and pleasure, and so was a drink cooled by snow preserved from nearby mountains (Pr 25:25). Snow itself in harvest was not good; it was the cool weather or cooling effect of snow that was good. Solomon used this refreshing effect of cool weather or a cool drink for his simile.

Solomon used a messenger, or ambassador, for the lesson, though it applies to all jobs and duties. Rather than working under constant supervision, a messenger would be sent with news, covenants, or ultimatums to other places. It would be easy to delay departure, linger on the way, get sidetracked, forget details of the message, present it in the wrong way, say more than needed, misperceive the response, or fail in other ways (Pr 13:17).

Faithfulness is a great measure of a man’s character (Pr 11:13; 14:5; 27:6; 28:20). Most men claim to be faithful. Just read their resumes or listen to them talk! But there are only a few truly faithful men in any generation (Pr 20:6). A faithful man meticulously fulfills every duty to equal or exceed the expectations of those trusting or depending on him.

How faithful are you? Are you early to work and appointments? Are you known for punctuality? Do you pace yourself on projects? Do you procrastinate? Do you always hit deadlines? Are you easily sidetracked? Are you distracted quickly? Do you always finish projects? Do you get the details others need? Are you a great communicator so that all parties know all that is needed? Are your quality and quantity greater than expected?

Faithful men are rare. You can separate yourself from the crowd by faithfulness in your assignments (Pr 22:29; Luke 2:52). Do your duties in such a way that those trusting you and depending on you are filled with excitement at your outstanding performance. And this applies from President of the United States to being a great student in kindergarten!

God’s messengers should be the most faithful men. Only very faithful men tested by real duties should ever be ordained (I Tim 3:1-7). He should be the most diligent and faithful man in the church and focused on his God-given duties without distraction (Phil 2:19-22; I Tim 4:12-16; II Tim 2:3-4; Titus 1:5-11). It is a disgusting shame when the ministry is referred to as a “nonprofit profession” due to the dereliction of duty of most ministers.

The rest of your life begins now. Who is trusting you and depending on you that needs a refreshing drink of cool water or the relief of a cool breeze? Get to your duties and fulfill each one better than expected. Child, make your bed and clean your room perfectly. Wife, have a real meal for your family tonight. Husband, do not relax or sleep tonight without training your family. Mr. President, provide fully for our national success.