My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: – Proverbs 1:8

Solomon admonishes his son not to forsake the law of his mother. The word “forsake” means “to quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart from.” What Solomon was saying not to be disloyal, which means “not true to allegiance.” To be loyal is to hold allegiance. To be disloyal is to forsake allegiance.

Here are a few thoughts regarding loyalty and disloyalty:

• Loyalty out of convenience is not the same as loyalty out of conviction.
• Loyalty is not agreement.
• Loyalty is not to personality but to principle.
• Disloyalty chooses personality, but loyalty chooses principle.
• Principles are embodied in people and institutions.
• Loyalty is not circumstantial.
• Loyalty is not neutral.
• Loyalty will never ask you to be disloyal to principle.
• Disloyalty is a fatal character flaw that leads to discord sowing and evil doing.
• Disloyalty breeds more disloyalty.
• Loyalty is a command, not an option (forsake not).

My goal is not perfection. That is unattainable. My goal is not popularity. That is short lived. My goal is to hold allegiance.

Loyalty is a choice determined by whether one holds allegiance or forsakes allegiance. The choice is ours.