"Scandal sells books. Fidelity does not." —Coretta Scott King
FIDELITY is faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support; or sexual faithfulness to a spouse or partner. Upon hearing the word fidelity, one might think of the investment company that secures many retirement accounts. Another will remember John Cusack playing a lovelorn Rob Gordon in the movie High Fidelity, which in musical terms is the reproduction of sound with little distortion, giving a result very similar to the original. The French fidelite and the Latin fidelis mean faithful. Sadly, we are more accustomed to the concept of INFIDELITY - the action or state of being unfaithful—than we are with fidelity. Infidelity also means unbelief in a particular religion, especially Christianity...hence the word infidel. We might say an unbeliever, atheist, or agnostic.
The Apostle Paul gives this admonition to the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, KJV:
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Unequal yoking causes stagnation and conflict in relationships, business alliances, and partnerships as two individuals or entities, with and without faith in God, pull or push in opposite directions. In 1 Timothy 5, the word infidel is used as Paul instructs his protege to ensure the care of widows in the congregation:
3Honour widows that are widows indeed. 4But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 5Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 7And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
God is serious about fidelity. We usually think of infidelity in the context of marriage because one of the Ten Commandments is Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery (Ex. 20:14). Adulterers in that day were immediately put to death by stoning if they were caught. Jesus said to even lust after a woman who is not your wife is to commit adultery with her in your heart (Matthew 5:27-28). God is not a fan of infidelity and divorce. Malachi 2:16b, NLT says “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”
Faithfulness is a fruit of God's spirit dwelling within the Believer. (Galatians 5:22) Christ followers are covenant people who love and serve the Lord wholeheartedly. We are to be covenant keepers, not breakers. Our lives are to be marked by fidelity, trustworthiness, commitment, and constancy. | 
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