Fruitful Living
THE FRUIT OF FAITHFULNESS
Faithful teachings leads to spiritual growth
But the fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness. – Galatians 5:22
INTRODUCTION
God is faithful and He wants us too to be – to Him, to others, and to the cause of our faith.
The dictionary defines faithfulness as “adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person, cause, or idea.” It uses other words like “loyal, fidelity, constancy, and dedication” to introduce ‘dependability and trustworthiness,’ essential components of faithfulness, into the definition.
Faithfulness is a virtue that is required in all things, whether big or small. It does not depend on feelings or emotions but is driven by a sense of sound spiritual reasoning that defies external forces. Faithfulness, in the real sense of it is impelled by an inner, deeper sense of purpose, not compelled by an outside condition or situation. Thus, in and out of season, on good days and bad days, in positive and adverse circumstances, faithfulness is steadfast and dependable, an immovable force in the shifting sands of time.
Faithfulness: No Compromise
Faithfulness is a fire in the bones. It may forswear its loyalty in moments of weak faith, but it will not stop burning. Faithfulness does not make compromises – as Esther said prior to approaching the king, ‘I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish’ – Esther 4:16.
The cross stands as the ultimate example of facing our extremities without any sense of compromise. Jesus was the no-quit Christ who demonstrated how to hold to principle- even to the point of death. Self-sacrifice is the fearsome way to say ‘self-denial’. Jeremiah had denied himself in favour of what God wanted. Jeremiah understood that we must spend the small coins of self-denial in order to buy the great commitments of our lives. The apostle Paul said that he was ‘being poured out like a drink offering’ – Philippians 2:17. Jeremiah’s life was being poured out in utter faithfulness, with no more hint of compromise.
Faithfulness and Our Relationship with Christ
We preach Christ crucified. How can the message of the Good News reach others? So many scoff or turn away. But as we are faithful. God supplies power to continue on, power to overcome. Our steadfast defence of God’s kingdom will evoke His steadfast defence of our lives.
Faithfulness and Our Service to Others
Remember the Lord’s Prayer says, ‘Deliver us from the evil one’ (Matthew 6:13). The evil one is that ever present, ever challenging force that daily strives to destroy our faithfulness. If Satan had his way, all our intentions to stand true will crumble. Paul urges us to wear the armour (Ephesians 6:10-18); clothing ourselves for the fray. With the faithful protection of God’s armour, we are ready to go to battle. We are sent to be faithful in our warfare with Satan. We are to employ God’s armour for our protection and the sword of the Spirit for our faithful advance as we fulfill God’s calling to serve Him.
Faithfulness, The Habit of Spiritual Dependency
The best of all habits is the habit of spiritual dependency. ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight’ – Proverbs 3:5-6.
Faithfulness simply means God can count on us. He can count on us when others are negative. He can count on us to obey when others are disobedient. Faithfulness is the quality that honours God with disobedience – joyous obedience. A faithfulness that grumbles at the requirement of God is not faithfulness at all. It is only grudging acquiescence.
Faithfulness, The High Art of Persistence
Faithfulness is one of the greatest of all virtues. For to believe much but not be faithful brings life at last to nothing. Further, faithfulness begets a hunger to have, not just the blessings of God, but God Himself. Faithfulness will not be satisfied until it sees at close range the God it cannot quit dreaming about. True Christians hunger, not even for the blessings of God, but for God. Faithfulness is the unswerving pursuit of the presence of God.
Faithfulness, The Road that Ends in Victory
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. – Revelation 2:10.
Stay faithful and you will remain a conqueror. Victory is the end reward offaithfulness. Jehoshaphat was faithful, and God worked in his life (2 Chronicles 20:20-30).
God’s Blessings on Faithfulness
Abram and Sarai, old in years – some would say too old to make such a pilgrimage – set out to obey God (Genesis 12:1-5). They were faithful and in following their faithfulness, they were swallowed whole by God’s blessings.
Christianity is never not intentionally near-sighted. In Matthew 25, the King (who is Jesus) rewards or condemns people merely on the basis of what they have done to bless or curse others. Those who have served others are called blessed by the Father. Faithfulness is not just a Fruit of the Spirit. It is world-view – the basis of our eternal rewards.
God waits to bless us. All we have to do is say, ‘Yes, Lord, I will!’
Rewards Of Faithfulness
1. Divine placement in authority; Anyone who is faithful must be positioned in authority, just like in the case of Joseph the son of Jacob (Genesis 39:4-6)
2. Divine promotion and progress: Faithfulness at your current level is what qualifies you for promotion to the next level.
3. Divine provision, welfare and comfort.
With all of this read, I pray that God will endue us the grace to be faithful and grant us inner strength to be able to say No to every form of compromise, in Jesus name. Amen.
JESUS, MY SAVIOUR, BROTHER, FRIEND – MHB 478
1 Jesu, my Saviour, Brother, Friend,
On Whom I cast my every care,
On Whom for all things I depend,
Inspire, and then accept, my prayer.
2 If I have tasted of Thy grace,
The grace that sure salvation brings,
If with me now Thy Spirit stays,
And hovering hides me in His wings.
3 Still let Him with my weakness stay,
Nor for a moment’s space depart,
Evil and danger turn away,
And keep till He renews my heart.
4 When to the right or left I stray,
His voice behind me may I hear,
“Return, and walk in Christ Thy way,
Fly back to Christ, for sin is near.”
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Culled from the Fruit of the Spirit Bible.
Stay blessed!
For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org
By Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
The internationally accepted definition (from the UN Palermo Protocol, 2000) identifies three elements:
ACT (What is done), which includes:
• Recruitment, transportation, transfer harbouring, or receipt of persons. How it is Applied:
In Ghana, traffickers recruit children from rural areas under false promises of education or employment.
MEANS (How it is done), which includes:
• Threats
• Coercion
• Deception
• Abuse of vulnerability
How it is applied:
Parents may be deceived into releasing children, or victims may be threatened into silence.
PURPOSE (Why it is done), which includes:
• Sexual exploitation
• Forced labour
• Slavery
• Organ harvesting
Key Insight:
Even if a victim appears to “consent,” such consent is legally irrelevant if coercion or deception is involved.
Islamic legal principles align with this framework by prohibiting exploitation (ẓulm) and unjust enrichment, rendering trafficking morally and legally impermissible (Bawono & Huda, 2025).
Forms and impacts of human trafficking
Human trafficking manifests in several forms:
• Child trafficking → educational deprivation, psychological trauma
• Forced labour → economic exploitation, health risks
• Sexual exploitation → severe physical and emotional harm
• Organ trafficking → life-threatening and ethically egregious
Human trafficking manifests in diverse and interconnected forms. Child trafficking leads to loss of education, long-term psychological trauma, and entrenched poverty.
Forced labour subjects victims to severe economic exploitation and hazardous working conditions, often resulting in deteriorating health. Sexual exploitation inflicts profound physical abuse and emotional damage, alongside social stigma.
Organ trafficking poses life-threatening risks and represents a grave ethical violation. Collectively, these practices undermine human capital, weaken social structures, and hinder sustainable development. These forms collectively erode human capital and social stability.
Legal and Institutional Frameworks
International Legal Instruments
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948)
The UDHR provides the normative foundation for global human rights law:
• Article 1: Affirms equality and freedom of all humans
• Article 4: Explicitly prohibits slavery and servitude
• Article 5: Prohibits torture and degrading treatment
Analytical Insight:
Human trafficking violates all three provisions simultaneously. Victims are deprived of freedom (Article 1), subjected to forced labour (Article 4), and exposed to degrading conditions (Article 5).
These align closely with Islamic prohibitions against oppression and injustice.
Palermo Protocol (2000)
This is the primary international legal instrument addressing trafficking:
• Provides the AMP definition (Act–Means–Purpose)
• Emphasises the 3Ps framework: Prevention, protection, prosecution
• Recognises victim rights and state obligations
Analytical insight:
The Protocol’s emphasis on protection and dignity parallels Islamic legal objectives, particularly the preservation of life and honour. Comparative studies show strong convergence between Islamic law and international anti-trafficking norms (Jamal, 2025).
Regional framework
African charter on human and peoples’ rights
• Article 5: Protects human dignity and prohibits exploitation
• Article 15: Guarantees equitable working conditions
Analytical insight:
The Charter contextualises human rights within African socio-cultural realities, reinforcing communal responsibility an idea that resonates with Islamic communal ethics (ummah).
National framework: Ghana 1992 Constitution of Ghana
• Article 15: Guarantees the dignity of all persons and prohibits torture or degrading treatment
• Article 16: Explicitly prohibits slavery, servitude, and forced labour
• Article 21: Guarantees fundamental human rights and freedoms, including personal liberty, freedom of movement, and constitutional safeguard against human trafficking. In particular, Article 21 affirms the right of individuals to move freely, make autonomous decisions, and live without coercion.
Human trafficking directly contravenes these rights by restricting victims’ movement, subjecting them to confinement, and denying their personal liberty through deception and force. Victims are often transported against their will and held in exploitative conditions, thereby violating their constitutional freedoms.
Consequently, trafficking not only breaches specific prohibitions under Articles 15 and 16 but also fundamentally undermines the broader human rights guarantees freedom from arbitrary restraint.
Human Trafficking Act (Act 694, as amended)
• Criminalises all forms of human trafficking, including recruitment, transportation, harbouring, and exploitation
• Provides for victim protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration through state-supported mechanisms
• Establishes institutional frameworks for investigation, prosecution, and inter-agency collaboration
Critical and normative insight:
The Act reflects Ghana’s commitment to safeguarding human dignity and aligns with international standards. However, enforcement challenges persist due to limited funding, weak institutional coordination, and low public awareness, which hinder effective implementation.
From an Islamic perspective, the provisions of Act 694 resonate strongly with core Sharīʿah principles. Islam unequivocally prohibits all forms of exploitation (ẓulm), coercion, and the commodification of human beings. Human trafficking violates the divinely ordained dignity (karāmah) of individuals, undermines justice (‘adl), and disrupts social balance. By criminalising trafficking and promoting victim protection, the Act indirectly advances the higher objectives of
Islamic law (Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah), particularly the preservation of life, dignity, and wealth. Thus, both Islamic teachings and Ghanaian law converge in condemning trafficking as a grave moral and legal injustice.
Page | 8
Children’s Act (Act 560)
• Protects children from exploitative labour and harmful practices
• Promotes access to education, welfare, and holistic development
Domestic Violence Act (Act 732)
• Addresses physical, emotional, and psychological abuse often associated with trafficking
• Provides legal remedies, protection orders, and support systems for victims
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, Kpone
Katamanso Municipal Chief Imam, Certified
Counsellor and Governance Expert
Jesus teaches, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”
Light is not meant to be hidden. In Ephesians 5:8, the Bible says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
This means our faith should be visible in the way we live. Not in a loud or forceful way, but in a consistent and genuine way.
When we choose honesty, kindness, patience, and love, we are shining our light. People may not always listen to what we say, but they will see how we live.
Your Life Should Point Others to God
Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This is the purpose of being salt and light. It is not about drawing attention to ourselves, but about pointing people to God.
In 1 Peter 2:12, we are encouraged to live such good lives that others may see our actions and glorify God.
Our lives become a testimony. The way we treat people, the way we handle challenges, and the way we walk in love all speak loudly.Through us, others can begin to see the goodness and grace of God.
6. Being Salt and Light Requires a Living Relationship with God
We cannot live this life in our own strength.
In John 15:5, Jesus says, “Without me you can do nothing.” This reminds us that our ability to influence the world comes from our connection with Him.
As we spend time in prayer, study His Word, and walk in obedience, our lives are transformed. From that place, we begin to reflect Him naturally.
It is not about striving. It is about abiding in Him.
A Simple Reflection
To be salt and light means:
² To influence the world with Godly character
² To live differently according to God’s Word
² To shine through your daily actions
² To point others to Christ
² To remain connected to Him at all times
Conclusion
Jesus has already declared who you are. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. The question is whether you are living out that identity.
The world needs your influence. The world needs your light. In your home, your workplace, your church, and your community, God has placed you there for a reason.
As you walk with Him, your life will naturally make an impact. Shine your light,
stay true to His Word and let your life bring glory to God.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
