ODJ: Little Things

May 19, 2016 

READ: Luke 16:1-18  

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 (v.10).

Reality TV and me? Not a good fit. No one is going to make a reality TV show about my life anytime soon. My life consists simply of loving and caring for my husband and daughters, working at my church part-time, doing some writing and trying my best to love others in my spheres of influence. From the world’s perspective, I’m not worthy of the bright lights.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not important to God or to those around me. I’m firmly convinced that living out the ordinary parts of life is sacred and special to Him. Being faithful in the unseen little things, in obscurity, is important (Luke 16:10). And it’s something God greatly values.

It can be easy to be on our best behaviour when we’re on the big screen, on a stage, out in public, at church or hanging around those who are mere acquaintances. As Jesus pointed out, it’s easy “to appear righteous in public” (v.15). The question is, who are we in private and obscurity? Jesus tells us that if we’re faithful in little things, then we’ll be faithful when we’re given “greater responsibilities”. If God can trust us when no one else is looking, He can rely on us when there are onlookers.

The world is constantly wooing us to conform to its standards, to do the things that will make us popular or famous. But God’s standard of measurement is far, far different. In fact, Jesus’ words to the Pharisees are helpful for us today: “What this world honours is detestable in the sight of God” (v.15).

We may never be celebrities, but that doesn’t mean God doesn’t think of us as shining stars in His universe (Philippians 2:15 NIV). May we follow Him; and as He leads us, may we do the little and the big things well.

—Marlena Graves

365-day plan: Proverbs 4:1-27

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Do you measure yourself and others according to God’s standards or the world’s? What little things will you do to honour God today? Why?