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
Some mornings, I awoke confused . . . not sure I had done what I should have done.
At fourteen, I went to work at the local Piggly Wiggly, bagging groceries. But at sixteen, I had some bills and needed more income. A friend who delivered papers for our state newspaper told me the paper needed delivery persons. I thought, Sounds like a simple enough job. So, I paid a visit to the person who could hire me.
We sat in his living room, and he explained my responsibilities. I would deliver seven days a week, collect money from subscribers, send in my fees, and attempt to get new customers. Sounded like an enormous responsibility for a sixteen-year-old, but I am a firstborn, and responsibility has always come naturally. I wasn’t worried.
What I didn’t know at the time was that my customers were scattered over a ten-mile radius, a radius not near my house. After all, this was the state paper, not our local paper. I also didn’t know that I would have to get up at 2:30 in the morning to pick up the papers, fold them, insert any advertisers, and then deliver them by a specific time. That involved a little much.
I couldn’t depend on my parents to wake me. At 2:30, Mom would not have been in the bed long—she was a night owl. Dad would have been dead to the world. I was on my own.
I set my trusty alarm. After picking up and delivering the papers and returning home, I had only an hour to sleep before getting up for school. Needless to say, I slept through most of my classes. And some mornings . . . quite a few mornings . . . I asked Mom, “Did I run my paper route.” Although she wasn’t up, she somehow knew whether I had been. I needed the money, so I did what I had to do.
Jesus also had something to say about doing what we must do. If people show faithfulness in small things, they will demonstrate trustworthiness with more extensive responsibilities. And isn’t life that way? We must typically prove ourselves at our jobs or careers before being given promotions.
Unless we’re trust fund kids—or the recipients of large inheritances—we must work for a living. Bills must be paid. We need necessities to exist—food, water, clothing. This work we’re paid to accomplish. As God’s representative, we should demonstrate dependability in our responsibilities.
But God’s work—unless we’re in full-time ministry—is voluntary, but nonetheless equally . . . even more . . . important. God needs faithful servants so His Kingdom work can advance in the way and at the pace He wants. And when we’re dependable with the small things He assigns, He’ll give us larger tasks to complete.
How can you do a better job of doing faithfully what He gives you to do?
Father, I depend on You for the courage to do those tasks You assign me.
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