Chiappetta Fine Art NFTs on WAX

Bold Face of Color is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

Chiappetta Collection of Fine Art Comes to WAX

Old-School Artist Finds New Groove on WAX Blockchain

March 2021 by Joe Chiappetta, Riverside, California

WAX has become world-famous as the go-to blockchain to release brand-name collectible cards and gaming items, also known as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Atari, William Shatner, Garbage Pail Kids, and Street Fighter are just some of the prominent official NFT collections that have all launched highly coveted products through WAX. More big names and big projects are on the way.

Meanwhile, as an award winning cartoonist (best known for Silly Daddy Comics) and fine artist with over 30 years in the industry, I have spent the last 5 years releasing rare digital art on the blockchain through a number of platforms with a good deal of success. A fine art sub-category of NFTs, rare digital art has breathed fresh new life in many an artist and art collector in this increasingly digital age. My own rare digital art efforts have typically gone quite well on a myriad of blockchains. Yet none of those networks were built specifically with art and collectibles distribution in mind. It's more like previous blockchains were retrofitted to sell NFTs as best they could. That is why each of these chains, while all making art history as innovators, left at least a little something to be desired in terms of user friendliness as well as ease of simulating and improving upon mainstream art distribution.

For the mainstream art world, which still has not largely caught on to how game-changing rare digital art is, much improvement is sorely needed. The data supports this in an almost embarrassing way. Mainstream art industry sales dropped 58% when comparing the first half of 2020 to the first half of 2019, according to Artnet.

This mainstream decline means incredible opportunity in the rare digital art space. Going live in June of 2019, along came a blockchain called WAX, and 12 months later, one of its main marketplaces: AtomicHub. Both were built by learning from the constraints of previous blockchain ecosystems while focusing strategically on delivering rare digital art in a fast, secure, user-friendly and frictionless manner. Gifting, collecting, releasing, trading, selling, and discovering digital art is now as simple as it gets. Literally, from the moment I saw how WAX works on Atomic Hub, I knew everything was going to change for me. Indeed, it already has.

Woman of the Garden is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

While not yet famous in the mainstream art world for it, I am certain that WAX will become one of the most prominent online vehicles for fine art distribution on the planet. In fact, for the artists already using WAX through AtomicHub, it already is an effective and exciting vehicle in which to release fine art. That's why, as a veteran cartoonist and fine artist, I have recently committed to releasing new art on WAX as the blockchain to take fine art into the future. I see it as a serious contender to be a perfect blockchain for the art world. My actions reflect this assessment; through AtomicHub, a whopping 77 of my latest artworks have just been released to the art marketplace, and this is only the beginning!

On May 8th, 2021, I will release a huge fine art NFT project with multiple artists on WAX called ArtVndngMchn!

World's Fair of Rare Digital Art

Where the Buffalo Browse is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Atomic Hub Marketplace. While this cartoon pokes fun at virtual reality culture, behind the fun just might be an economic revival for the art industry--the likes of which has never been seen--at least not while wearing a buffalo helmet.

World's Fair of Rare Digital Art:

Digital Art Needs a Multidimensional Digital World

Joe Chiappetta, February 2021

When virtual reality (VR) becomes user-friendly, affordable, with universal technical standards integrated from online gallery to gallery, the art-loving world could see a revival more influential even than the Italian Renaissance. Indeed, everyone (with internet access) could witness this World's Fair of Online Art, open 24-7, poised to impress and built to buy/sell rare digital art as if you were floating through a game-like world because... well... because you would indeed be floating through a game-like world--virtually speaking. Such a place would have free admission for all, economic opportunity for all, and operate in 4 virtual dimensions of height, width, depth, and the dimension of "Wow, this is awesome!"

Of course, online 3-D digital worlds are nothing new, as any player of Minecraft or Second Life will tell you. Neither is cryptocurrency a new thing. In fact, all 3 of these systems have been operational for over 10 years. Yet what would happen if a 3-D digital world were well-integrated with digital art, community equality, and cryptocurrency? It could become the art industry's "killer app."

Silly Daddy VR Helmet is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Atomic Hub

At 64 billion dollars for 2019, the global art market saw a decline in sales from the previous year. While 2020 statistics are not compiled yet, it is likely that this figure will be even lower. With fast transactions and borderless payment power, some are scrambling to declare cryptocurrency as the soon-to-be savior of a slumping global art market. 

However, the truth is at least a little more complex. Made possible by cryptocurrency, a small but excited number of people do collect rare digital art. But most in the art world still have no idea what such terms really mean.

What is rare digital art? It's online creative work tied to cryptocurrency that has been released in limited quantities, verifiable on a blockchain. For those in need of a refresher on what cryptocurrency is, think of it as coded internet money or credits released (usually) by entrepreneurs in specific predefined amounts. I should know; I have been researching and writing about this space for many years. In fact, I'm one of those rare digital art collectors. Many know that I am also a pretty prolific rare digital artist and educator in this space as well.

If you are just joining the rare digital art industry now, don't think you are late to the party. While rare digital art is 6 years old, the earliest pioneering developments from 2014 were not widely publicized and very slow in adoption (running on top of Bitcoin, often using Counterparty). Indeed, the first 4 years of rare digital art went by without much notice. Even now, the mainstream art world remains quite slow to completely jump on the bandwagon. So we are still in the very early days of rare digital art! For example, the Italian Renaissance lasted about 200 years, and some art historians find traces of the Renaissance roughly 100 years prior to its start through the work of Giotto. 

Whether the Italian Renaissance lasted 200 or 300 years, is not the point. Rather, it is significant that when a new movement starts, the early years of that movement are never as defined as historians make them out to be. Therefore if you are in rare digital art now, congratulations, fellow pioneer! You will be one of the early ones to help define and further shape it.

Since we are the early adopters, the question at hand is "Where do we go from here?" The first step is to soberly see where we really are now. The practice of buying rare digital art is only slowly being adopted by mainstream art collectors, and much of the rare digital art industry is dominated by speculators looking to make a quick profit flipping art. 

As an old-school physical collector turned rare digital art collector, I am not a flipper or speculator. In fact, of the many rare digital artworks in my collection, I rarely sell pieces from my collection. That is because I acquired the art in the first place because I wanted it for the fun of it. The art spoke to me in a unique way and simply made me happy. So if I can add such a piece to my collection, I will, and not worry about whether or not I can make money off of it later.

Zine Machine is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Atomic Hub.

By contrast, I do sell a nice amount of my own original artworks. That has been a practice of mine in the physical world (since the 1990s at comic book conventions) as well as in the digital world on rare digital art markets. While (literally by the grace of God) I have collectively sold hundreds of pieces of rare digital art on MakersPlace, SuperRare, Atomic Hub, Book of Orbs, and pixEOS, I can't say the same for everyone. Indeed, the opposite is true; the majority of artists--despite their great talent--are not selling much.

Unlike myself, not everyone has the benefit of 4 decades experience in the arts as well as authoring one of the longest running autobiographical comics about family like I have with Silly Daddy Comics and Silly Daddy Zine. Most folks are just starting out as artists, or are really strapped for time working odd jobs and doing art on the side. Therefore, people can't be wasting time on markets where they may never sell anything. Everyone's time is valuable. So it is important, as we shape the rare digital art economy, that we build more opportunity in it--not just for the superstars, but for everyone.

Loyal Daddy is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on Atomic Hub.

Despite the challenges of emerging artists struggling to make significant impact, artists are flocking to release new works on rare digital art markets in ever-increasing numbers. Naturally, due to the sad difference between supply and demand, as I alluded to previously, most of these artists will not sell anything there, and will soon leave the market discouraged. Some, in bitterness, may even spread a bad report about the true innovation going on in this still growing space, but don't be deceived; the best is still yet to come!

Next Steps for Rare Digital Art Markets

So what's the solution to increase demand for this kind of art? A higher quantity of serious art collectors will need a number of good reasons to jump into the rare digital art market. That's because the experience of collecting most digital art (rare or otherwise) is often--for lack of a better term--anticlimactic. It is hardly a social activity since collectors typically buy their art alone on their computers--with absolutely no fanfare. I know this because that is what I do as an art collector. 

Aside from the excitement of in-person rare digital art auctions, which are few and far between, why does collecting rare digital art hover on the sometimes anticlimactic side? It is actually a design problem. For most web sites selling rare digital art, the pieces are almost always offered in a visually dull grid layout. This is basically a 2-D catalog experience. Such design conventions have not changed since the mail order days which showcased department store catalogs of centuries gone by. That's not much different than scrolling through an Instagram art feed. Things really must change, and they can.

Gratefully, we have the technology to make those changes now. Online galleries who move to a virtual 3-D exhibit experience can be the ones who can stay relevant in an increasingly digital world.  As art-seeking and collecting becomes more of a game environment, more people will get excited about it.

The WAX community, and in particular the Atomic Hub Marketplace, is doing an incredible job at making 2-D rare digital art galleries fun, gamified, and incredibly user friendly. In fact, Atomic Hub has a "bundle" feature that allows collectors to buy multiple pieces of art in the same transaction. I liken it to the coolness and excitement of being a kid and buying a pack of trading cards. 

Digital Art Needs a Multidimensional Digital World by Joe Chiappetta. It's rare digital art available on MakersPlace.

Another example of innovation is the unlockable content feature for owners of rare digital art. MakersPlace and a growing number of other rare digital art markets have this feature. I used this feature to release my newest book, Silly Daddy Zine #1. Here's how it works: everyone can just see the cover of the book. But only those who buy it as rare digital art gain access to download the 50 page book. This unlockable download for owners is one of the most exciting new features in the industry, providing more incentive for further adoption.

Silly Daddy Zine #1 is rare digital art and a 50-page book by Joe Chiappetta, available on MakersPlace.

Looking to the future, the next bold step is to migrate the best of these current rare digital art markets, like MakersPlace and Atomic Hub, onto one virtual 3-D world that is only somewhat similar to Minecraft, Decentraland, Cryptovoxels, or Somnium Space. I say "only somewhat similar to..." because none of those sites have all of the below essential features:

VR Art Gallery Essentials

1. Exhibitors earn the rights to virtual 3-D land and wall space by purchasing affordable rare digital art in this world.
2. The virtual 3-D land to have gallery space will always be cheap and not manipulated by early speculators trying to drive up the price of land.
3. The virtual land borders keep expanding as more users exhibit in the space. Like the internet, where users can make an unlimited amount of new web pages, the same goes for wall and land space. More gets created as more is needed.
4. Collectors can explore, exhibit their collections, and still buy and sell art all in a 3-D realm.
5. The virtual 3-D gallery can be explored without a VR headset, plus users can buy and sell art without a headset too.
6. The virtual 3-D gallery world has a 2-D auto-generated counterpart for those with slower technology.
7. The 3-D world and its members have a code of conduct that adheres to the moral standard outlined in the FCC's guidelines and is a kid-friendly environment.
8. Users can create individualized exhibit space right in the 3-D environment without any coding knowledge. All necessary virtual building materials are available for free.
9. A few non-essential, yet more flashy premium gallery building materials are earned by those who buy a high volume of rare digital art, or complete defined and helpful tasks to advance the community.
10. Users can teleport to any location in the "world" quickly and easily. These links work in-world and also as links on a regular website.
11. Users can customize their own avatars.
12. The gallery does not issue its own new cryptocurrency, but rather leverages existing and widely adopted currencies. The art and art experience is the product, not another alt-coin.
13. Transactions to buy and sell art in the 3-D virtual environment can be done via credit card, PayPal, or existing crypto such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, EOS, and WAX. These cryptocurrencies are mentioned as they all have an existing and established track record of being used in current art markets. By default, financial actions on the site should be using blockchains that have no transaction fees to use the network.
14. No sign-in is needed to view and explore this world.
15. Open standards are used to foster as much continued development and international collaboration as possible. Perhaps Blockchain Game Alliance can help make this happen since they are a diverse professional coalition from a variety of blockchain and gaming platforms.
16. The environment also has 3-D games that a user can play--kind of like walking through a carnival; there's a game booth, and next to it is an art booth, including a collaborative VR drawing space, like a VR version of Dada.art. Prizes won in the game booth can include rare digital art. As an added example, imagine being able to play a great rare digital art shooter game called Spells of Genesis in a multiplayer 3-D universe and receive game points, crypto, or rare digital art as your winnings!
17. This VR cryptoart world should also have built-in user-to-user messaging (perhaps through secure chat), audio capabilities, and parental controls.
18. Designed as an ever-expanding World's Fair of Online Art, collectors can seamlessly use their avatars to explore a 3-D version of contemporary high-end Expressionist art from various galleries on one virtual block, perhaps on a street called Emotional Way. Then they would turn a corner and walk down Budget-Buy Boulevard, where all rare digital art is no more expensive than a bottle of water.
19. Such a site should also have a daily virtual newspaper, which aggregates relevant art news from this realm and sends it to members who subscribe. This would be things like how many new pieces of art were sold, created, who collects the most art, who releases the most art, who sells the most art, who has spent a lot of time on the site yet is not receiving many gallery visitors, who refers the most new users to the site through a referral code... kind of like a game leader board, but also designed to help everyone.
20. Site should have the ability for creators to upload new rare digital art of their own creation to be displayed on exhibit space owned by the artist. The operators of the site would take a commission on these sales and artist would receive the bulk of the sales. The artist could also receive a percentage of the resale commission on all secondary market sales if made via blockchain through the platform.

While it must be acknowledged that some VR art galleries are already operational (and have been for years), most just feature artists creating VR experiences as an isolated piece, not other kinds of art, and not connected to a whole VR world. Additionally, few of these galleries use cryptocurrency, none of them are household names, and they're all fragmented realms. More importantly, none of the existing sites have even a fraction of the features numbered above. Yet this is what is needed for wide consumer adoption.

That's not to say that existing VR galleries are failing or prospering; the data on that is not easily available (or reliable). Yet like the rest of the art world, these sites are typically siloed, many requiring expensive hardware to view (while this same hardware will be obsolete in a few years), and most of the existing VR galleries are hustling to make an individual name for themselves. There's nothing wrong with hustling to self-promote, but much effort must also be spent on collaborating to build a unified virtual art fair experience.

Consider this analogy as the current state of VR art galleries: disconnected food trucks with delicious food, yet non-uniform procedures exist at random, hard to find parking lots, while what is really required is a cohesive international full service food court. A combination of the above-listed elements could create a very compelling art environment that would be unprecedented, and perhaps even become the "Ready Player One" artistic universe of tomorrow... yet live in our own time. It would inspire many repeat customers, delighted to explore a dynamic virtual art market in an exciting and gamified role as art collectors, art-seekers, and new art pioneers.

Joe Chiappetta
http://SillyDaddy.net

The War Is Not Over

The War Is Not Over

A flash fiction story by Joe Chiappetta

"I know how we can defeat Mr. Vigilant," said Dr. Bad Guy with a sinister wrinkle of his nose. "Trick him into thinking that the war is over; let him think he's won."

The idea was half the battle--or perhaps even more--because it was such a powerful concept. The rest was simple application of deceptive tradecraft: a few false rumors about Mr. Vigilant's fellow soldiers, a fake retreat by Dr. Bad Guy and his forces, a year of free virtual reality movies "anonymously" gifted to Mr. Vigilant, and a breathtakingly beautiful and lonely woman who "just happened" to move in right next door to him.

When a person believes their fight is over, they stop fighting. As a reliable agent fighting on the side of good v. evil, Mr. Vigilant had many years of fighting left in him. Yet such truths escaped him during that critical time. His heart for righteous battle was replaced with a heart for immediate comfort.

Later, Mr. Vigilant would recall with shame... as well as a renewed earnestness, "I let my guard down. I let my people down. But I live to fight again... for the victor's crown."

---

Read more of my new short stories only available in my latest zine!

Silly Daddy Zine #1

My newest book is out now on MakersPlace!

Available exclusively to owners of this rare digital art, only those who purchase Silly Daddy Zine #1 will gain access to this 50 page book as an unlockable, high resolution PDF download. It has been released as a limited edition of only 10 rare digital books. Through blockchain technology, this means only 10 book art collectors can ever own it at the same time.

I have been in the publishing industry since the mid 1980s and have won awards in cartooning as well as writing, yet this book represents a unique career milestone. Silly Daddy Zine #1 is my 13th book, yet the very first one I have issued on the blockchain. It is 50 full-color pages long, plus a painted cover and back cover. The entire book took over 1 year to create. Think of this museum-worthy volume as part comics, part home-grown magazine, part fine art exhibit, part short story collection, and part experimental coolness. Every page is either a brand new work of fine art or a never before published short story.

This very rare book is entirely a product of California. I started drawing, painting, and writing it using an iPad Pro with Apple Pencil while living in Pasadena, CA. Yet I finished the art book after we moved to Riverside, California, and released it through MakersPlace: a very user-friendly rare digital art market headquartered in San Francisco.

Those who have been following my work a long time know that zines, rare book publishing, and art/writing experimentation are my roots. This new digital book contains an eclectic blend of those elements, and it reads like a lively trip to an unpredictable art happening. The pages of Silly Daddy Zine #1 are new, previously unpublished digital artworks that could stand on their own hanging from a gallery wall, yet are loaded into a book full of concentrated art rarity.

Buy this rare digital book at https://makersplace.com/joechiappetta/silly-daddy-zine-1-1-of-10-43976/

FAQs for Silly Daddy Zine #1

1. Why can't anyone preview pages of the book before becoming a potential buyer?

• My preference is that this book/zine be a complete surprise to each person who buys it. I liken it to the early days of the zine scene that I was a part of in the 1980s. It was a time of great creativity and fascination. You'd see one tiny ad or one picture of a zine's cover in a print catalog, read the description, and then order that zine. After a few weeks, the zine would be delivered to you and for the very first time you would find out what was inside. I want to recapture that sense of discovery with Silly Daddy Zine #1. That's why there are no preview pages or review copies that have been sent to anyone.
• Limiting who can see the book to just those who bought it also increases the book's exclusivity and rarity.
• My previous artworks and books have been in circulation and easily accessible on the Internet. In fact, literally hundreds of my previous drawings and artworks can be viewed for free online. Therefore anyone can readily gain a clear idea of what I am about as an artist, writer, and creator through the integrity of my previous works.

2. Since the book title is Silly Daddy Zine #1, does this mean this is the start of a series of Silly Daddy Zines?

• Making a series of unique art zines was the original intent when I started making this book. I really do hope to continue this series.
• However, after finishing every book I have ever released, I always like to take an extended deep breath and just be grateful that I was given the ability to bring the book to completion.
• Therefore I will not make any promises, but continuing this series is a very real possibility.
• Given enough encouragement from collectors of this zine would certainly influence me in a positive way to continue expanding my creativity in the wonderful world of zines.

Zip into the warm and wonderful community zine scene with Silly Daddy Zine #1

Loyalty

Loyalty is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on MakersPlace.

Our church has been going through inspiring lessons on loyalty in the Bible and I have been one of the teachers who has preached an installment of this eye-opening series. To compliment such things, I thought it would be fitting to draw a visual representation of loyalty. Two friends, fighting side by side, where each one has the other's back, seemed to be a most lively way to portray the excitement and commitment wrapped up in the godly trait of loyalty.

You can also watch the lesson I preached called Loyalty + Self Denial = Disciple. It is at https://youtu.be/J9QLegIFjR4 and below are the notes from my sermon.

Loyalty + Self Denial = Disciple

See the connection between Loyalty and Self Denial. In Christ, you can't have one without the other. Both are requirements of Christianity.

Luke 9:20-24

[20] “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 

Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

[21] Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. [22] And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

[23] Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 

• Denying self is a must-have behavior of disciples.

• Denying self is a salvation issue.

• "Deny" self here could also be translated as "disown" self, "refuse" self, "reject" self.

• One of the main requirements of following Jesus is not being selfish. Disown what you want; replace it with what Jesus wants.

• Can't be loyal to self and Jesus at the same time.

• If you are truly following Jesus then, like Jesus did, you are building a team of loyal disciples.

• If you deny self for Jesus, then you are loyal to Jesus, then you are loyal to his church.

• If you are selfish, then you are not loyal.

• If not loyal, then not a disciple of Jesus. 

1 Samuel 22:1-23 

• Intense period in the life of David.

• Use as framework to test godly loyalty in our own lives.

• In my easily deceived mind I can believe that many people are loyal to me and imagine me doing great things to lead them. Yet I’ve thought this during periods when I wasn’t really leading anyone; in fact when I examined things closely no one was loyal to me. I wasn’t loyal to anyone.

1 Samuel 22:1-23

[1] David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. [2] All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

[3] From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” [4] So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

[5] But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

[6] Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul, spear in hand, was seated under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing around him. [7] Saul said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? [8] Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”

[9] But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. [10] Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

[11] Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. [12] Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” 

“Yes, my lord,” he answered.

[13] Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”

[14] Ahimelech answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? [15] Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”

[16] But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father's whole family.”

[17] Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.” 

But the king's officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

[18] The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. [19] He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

[20] But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to join David. [21] He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. [22] Then David said to Abiathar: “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family. [23] Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me.”

• Verse 1-2: When David was heavily persecuted by Saul, why did hundreds of people still follow David?

• David became a leader of hundreds of troubled people.

• Person loyal to God will not abandon others because of their own hardship. 

• Reflect on the loyalty that David inspired.

• Think about loyalty in your own life.

• Who have you shown loyalty to in the past month?

• Is God pleased with your level of loyalty?

1 Samuel 22:3

“...Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?”

• David shows his loyalty to God by waiting for God to make things clear.

• David was God's learner.

• David learned loyalty by waiting for God and following God's way.

• David did this even if that meant being separated from family.

1 Samuel 22:8

"Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today."

• Saul's attitude is only loyal to self.

• How many times does he mention "me" or "my"? Eight times!

• If you are selfish, it is impossible to be loyal.

• Contrast with loyalty between David and Saul’s son Jonathan.

• Godly people make a solemn agreement (covenant)  of righteousness regardless of physical family influence or persecution.

Reread 1 Samuel 22:14

"Ahimelech answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household?"

• The Hebrew word in verse 14 translated as "loyal" can also be translated as "to sustain, to support with the arm, to carry a child, to nourish, to be faithful." As we examine loyalty in ourselves, ask "who am I supporting; who am I nourishing?"

• David was known and praised for his loyalty to God, God's kingdom, and God's people--even in times of deadly hardship and injustice.

• Can you see how David was respected because of his loyalty?

• People respect loyalty.

1Samuel 22:18

[18] The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

• Doeg picked the wrong person and the wrong orders to be loyal to.

• Perhaps you’re loyal, but you’re loyal to the wrong doctor and the wrong.

• Misplaced loyalty damages God’s kingdom.

Ask yourself these questions and answer objectively:

• Are you known for your loyalty to God? Who knows this?
• Are you known for your loyalty to God's kingdom?
• Are you known for your loyalty to God's people?
• Are you known for loyalty to the team of people you are working with closely throughout the week to advance God's mission? We call this group a "Bible Talk."

1 Samuel 22:20-23

[20] But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to join David. [21] He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. [22] Then David said to Abiathar: “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family. [23] Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me.”

• Why does David take responsibility for Abiathar's safety?

• Loyalty breeds loyalty.

• Loyalty goes both ways.

• When people truly have a shared mission, they will get united, take risks, deny self, and be loyal to God and his people.

Challenge:

1. Make a list of what and who you are taking responsibility for in the church.

2. Ask one of Jesus’ disciples today if loyalty to God and his kingdom are one of your strengths.

3. Pray to have a heart of godly loyalty and godly responsibility--just like David, a person "after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14).