Being Faithful in the Little Things

In review of Luke 16:10, it says, “Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones” (GNT).

At the tail end of the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke 16:9-12, Jesus tells me that I'm to use my worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when my possessions are gone, they will welcome me to an eternal home. If I am faithful in little things, I'll be faithful in large ones. But if I am dishonest in little things, I won't be honest with greater responsibilities. And if I am untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust me with the true riches of heaven? And if  I am not faithful with other people's things, why should I be trusted with things of my own?

What I am learning is that I need to make wise use of financial opportunities I have, not to earn heaven or salvation, but to help others find Christ. If I use my money to help those in need or to help others find Christ, my earthly investment will bring me eternal benefits. When I truly love and obey God's will, the unselfish use of my possessions will follow.

My integrity will often tested and put on the line in money matters. God calls me to be honest even in small details I could easily ignore. Heaven's riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth. But If I am not trustworthy with my money here, I will be unfit to handle the vast riches of God's Kingdom. I need to maintain my integrity in all matters, whether big or small.

So God will use the little things in my life to test my integrity. The natural tendency is to think it’s the big things in life that create a leader, but Jesus says this is not the case. The big crises in life reveal leadership, but leadership is not built in the big things of life. It’s built in the small things. That’s where integrity shows up, in the stuff that nobody sees, in the stuff behind the scenes, and in the small, unseen, unspectacular choices of life where you do the right thing even though nobody’s ever going to see it.

Faithfulness on my part requires integrity, and God tests my integrity in the little things.

In Luke 16:10 Jesus says, “Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones” (GNT). He’s saying my public blessing is determined by my private integrity.

Many think what someone does in their private life has nothing to do with their ability to be a leader. For instance every time a politician has a scandal, we can count on his defenders to come out and say this: “It really shouldn’t matter what a guy’s private life is like.” It has everything to do with him as a leader! Because if a man lies to his wife, he’ll lie to his constituents. Believe me! If he’ll lie to the person he told, “Till death do us part,” he will cheat on you, voter! Count on it!

My public blessings as a person will come from my private integrity that nobody will ever see. God uses little things to test my integrity.

Bottom Line:

If you are faithful in small things, you’ll be faithful in large one. If you dishonest in small things, you’ll be dishonest in larger ones.

What this means to me:

It goes toward personal integrity and consistency regardless of I face. If I am faithful in small matters, I’ll be faithful in the large one. If I’m dishonest in small matters, I’ll be dishonest in the larger ones.

In summary, I need to be faithful in the little things, even the things people will never see. For if I make it a habit to be faithful in the small things, I will be faithful in the larger ones. God calls me to be honest even in the small details I could easily ignore. God is using the little things to test my integrity.

This morning Father I thank you for your countless blessings. I have seen examples in my own life where when I’m faithful in small things you have blessed me with greater responsibilities. I need the help of the Holy Spirit to always keep this in mind, especially when it would be easy to take shortcuts knowing that no one is looking. Father, I have a lot of things to work on at work, ones in which I need to guide others to accomplish. I ask you to give me the wisdom I need. Allow me to respond rightly to those around me. I pray for an ease in tension on the priorities I’m facing. I pray these things in your Son Jesus name, amen!