The Small Things

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” Luke 16:10 NLT

I remember the first big party we hosted. I spent so much energy preparing, and it was a financial impact we could feel.

Almost no one came.

I would have done twice the work and spent twice as much if people came, ate, and enjoyed themselves. But, we wrapped up food that wasn’t designed to keep and sat down in an awkwardly clean house feeling superfluous.

Some people feel destined for greatness, it’s a deep longing. But even if you are not haunted by delusions of grandeur, you likely want the things you do to be worthwhile and appreciated.

This can be a trap. There is a poverty mentality, “I would take better care of my things if they were nicer.” And a scarcity mentality, “I would share if I had more.”

In writing, it could be, “I would write more regularly, if I had more readers.”

A little or a lot

When we first moved to Idaho, we lived in a hundred-year-old house. It smelled, was in horrible condition, infested with spiders, and had been decorated with a nail gun. I complained in my heart throughout the first four seasons. One day, I felt God press on me that I would live there until I was happy.

I became intentional during the following year. I took better care of it, and I paid attention to the good parts. We all sincerely appreciated that home when we left. This experience is not a promise that if you are faithful with the small things, God will give you more money, fame, responsibility, readers…

Our God is not transactional based on our obedience, and Luke 16:10 doesn’t indicate that you will receive more if you take care of what you have. The next verse speaks of true wealth rather than something in this world.

The greatest benefit of not despising a small beginning, was what happened inside of my heart. I found a blessing in being faithful with what seemed like “not enough” to me.

Regardless of whether you see an increase, you will find contentment if you are faithful with the seemingly insignificant.

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Beliefs represented by individual authors are not necessarily shared by all members of ICW.