Learn to Sweat the Small Stuff

He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much.
–Luke 16:10

What does it mean to be faithful? To be faithful means being willing to sweat the small stuff in life. And by that, I mean doing with excellence the little things that God has called you to do.

In Luke 16:10-11, Jesus said, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?” Jesus was saying that God gives us money–a little thing to Him–as a test to see how faithful we are. And if we can’t faithfully use money, do you think God is going to give us true riches to oversee one day in heaven? The little things God gives us to handle are a test to see whether we can handle bigger responsibilities in life. We need to be faithful in doing small things.

There are two reasons we ought to do the small things in life with excellence. First, small things when added together become big things. Sometimes somebody who is interested in writing a book will say to me, “Pastor, how do you write a book?” And I say, “One sentence at a time.” If you write just one page a day, in six months you’ll have a full-length book. Little things when added together become big things. It’s the same way in other areas of life. Just ten minutes a day reading God’s Word, ten minutes a day talking to your heavenly Father, ten minutes a day listening to your mate–those small activities will yield huge dividends over a long time. Small things when added together become big things.

Second, God uses small assignments as tests for bigger assignments. The other day, my sister asked me, “If you got word like our parents did that you only had a few months to live, how would you spend those final months?” That is a great question. What about you? If you found out you only had a few months to live, or if like Elijah you found out you had one day before God took you to heaven, how would you spend your last moments on earth? Would you quit your job? Would you go on an exotic trip? Would you drink yourself into oblivion? Elijah spent the last day of his life doing what he had always been doing: faithfully fulfilling the assignment God had given him. Those who want to live a significant life value faithfulness in small things until the moment God calls them home.

Are you being faithful in the assignment God has given you? Here are some great questions to ask yourself every day: Did I tell and show my spouse and kids that I love them? Did I do my job honestly and to the best of my ability? Did I demonstrate concern for my neighbors and coworkers? Did I take time to express gratitude to God and others for the blessings in my life? Did I take my anxieties to God? Did I try to glorify God in my thoughts, words, and actions? Significant people understand that God values faithfulness more than success.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Leaving a Legacy That Lasts” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2017.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.