Verse: Luke 16:10-12
One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
Devotion:
Has anyone else ever read these verses tons of times … then just moved on without much thought? I’ve never thought about this set of verses in great depth. However, now that I am slowing down to do so- I’m realizing how much wisdom is packed into just these two verses! They can be such an overarching statement about our faith as a whole. They summarize how our faith works. Let’s break it down.
- if we can’t have faith in the small moments, how do we expect ourselves to remain faithful in the big moments?
- if we can’t stand in the truth in small opportunities, how do we expect ourselves to remain truthful in big opportunities?
- if we cannot use small blessings wisely, how can we be trusted with large blessings?
- if we don’t honor and protect others’, how can we be expected to have our own things to honor and protect?
If we’re not building Godly habits in the small moments, we won’t be prepared for the big moments. Read that again.
You would never attempt to run a marathon without training. You start small and slowly build up. We’re presented with small training opportunities daily. Will I pray about the extra stress I’m feeling at work? Will I tithe when things are comfortable to give God my first? When I have an opportunity to pray for a brother or sister, will I take it? These are all opportunities the Lord brings us to build our faith. If I can’t say yes to these smaller chances, how can I expect to say yes to the big ones? Will I choose to stand in my faith and trust God’s plan, even when it doesn’t make sense? Will I pray for healing after years of chronic, life changing illness? Will I share my Hope with my unsaved parents? Will I find ways to give, even when I have to leave my job and money feels scary?
Matthew 6:26-30 states:
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
Think about all of the ways the Lord has shown up for you. He has always provided what we need, even if we don’t see it on this side of Heaven. A dear friend once told me that it will not make sense here sometimes. However, if we knew all that God knew, could see His big picture and understand His thoughts, we would choose the same things for ourselves that He is choosing for us now. We can trust Him because we know He is a loving and just Father. We are here for a purpose—to be a vessel for the Hope we have in the name of Jesus Christ. These verses bring us back to the heart of faith. Practice trusting in Him in the small moments, so we will be prepared to respond in faith when the big opportunities come.
Prayer:
Lord, change the ways I see the world to the way you see it. Let us see the opportunities you bring to us on a daily basis. God, show us how to build our faith. Help us to set our eyes, unwavering, on You. Show us how to build our faith habits now so that we might be an example to a broken world around us in both the big and small moments. Thank you for using us and for the opportunities you bring us daily to choose you and grow. Amen.
Author: Becca Artymenko
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