Student Devotionals
Luke 16:10
Faithful in Little, Faithful in Much
Today, I’m so excited to be able to share our verse of the day, Luke 16:10, which talks about the importance of being faithful in the little things.
Just before this, in Luke 15, Jesus began preaching a series of parables before a mixed audience of sinners and Pharisees. Now, in Luke 16, Jesus begins to shift his focus to teaching the disciples, but he knows that the Pharisees are still within earshot of everything He says. In our passage, he has a message that is both meant to encourage his disciples while convicting the Pharisees, who had not been faithful with the privileged position of spiritual authority that God had trusted them with. Let’s read from Luke 16:10-13 to see what Jesus says:
10 “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. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Jesus basically says that the people who do their best in their little responsibilities are also the people who can be trusted to do their best in the big things. As for those who don’t… well, they will have to face negative consequences for their lack of faithfulness, and they will miss out on the bigger and better responsibilities that God could have given to them.
Man, I love when the bible gives concrete principles for us to live by! I KNOW without a doubt that if I’m faithful now in the little things, God is going to entrust me with more in the future!
So, what kind of things can we be faithful in? In this passage, Jesus teaches us about the faithful use of money, but it can also apply to how we are to be faithful in other areas of our lives as well. It’s important to be faithful in school, work, and our relationships. Being faithful can also look like taking on something new or giving something up that you know God is calling you to do. Ultimately, being faithful means giving your 100% to God in everything.
What’s cool is that succeeding at faithfulness doesn’t depend on the results you produce, but the effort you give. For example, you are being faithful when you have a conversation with a friend about Jesus even if you don’t see them come to know the Lord right there at that minute. Your faithful obedience to his instruction is all the Lord asks!
Let me give you a few ways you can apply this truth to your life this week:
1. Be faithful even when it’s hard.
Have you ever had a responsibility (homework, a job, helping around the house, or even being a Christian club leader) that you haven’t really felt like doing? I don’t know about you, but the temptation to procrastinate can be so real sometimes, even for the little things! But what if we let the thought of eternity fuel our faithfulness? Think of your church, your relationships, your time… how can you be faithful with those things to make a Kingdom impact? We have so much hope in Jesus! Let’s let that fuel us when we feel like giving up, procrastinating, or not giving it our all.
2. Embrace every responsibility… especially the small ones!
Have you ever thought about the effect that being faithful can have in your own life? If you’re faithful in even the little things that you do, you’re basically saying, “Yes, God, I’m going to take care of what you’ve given me now so that I can be entrusted with even bigger things later.” Think of a goal or aspiration that you have. Do you want to be a leader in ministry? A great teacher, worker, or even spouse or parent one day? What are you doing with the little that you have now so that you can be faithful in much with those things later?
3. Ask God to help you be faithful.
At the end of it all, no one is perfect. The key thing is to make sure that we are humble enough to admit it and take responsibility for areas where we maybe haven’t been the most faithful. But remember, we can’t truly be faithful without God’s help. One of my favorite verses is found in Psalm 127. It says “unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” Basically, unless God goes before you, what you do has no meaning or purpose. The same goes for our faithfulness. We need God to help us be faithful.
So what kind of steps can you take today to be investing in what God could have for you in the future? Maybe it’s checking in on the friends in your life to make sure they’re doing okay, maybe it’s finally starting to tithe at your church, or something else.
Whatever it may be, friends, lean into His strength and give it your all. He deserves it!