FAITHFULNESS IN WORK
"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)
I sometimes find myself in a season of discouragement regarding my work and contribution to the Kingdom of God. It happens when I focus on my accomplishments (or what I perceive to be a lack of accomplishments). My accomplishments. You can probably see the problem. The truth is, God has done incredible things in and through my life, miraculous things I don’t deserve to be any part of. But I struggle when I focus on what I think I should have accomplished rather than leaning into the sovereignty and goodness of God’s plan for my life and purpose. It usually takes the form of thinking one of my creative projects or pastoral endeavors should have been more successful or gained more attention. I don’t love admitting that, but it’s unlikely I’m alone. Have you ever been discouraged by an unhealthy discontent with your work or personal progress?
Today’s verse says, …if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. The obvious interpretation of that verse is its warning against dishonesty with others, but long before that ever happens, we are first dishonest with ourselves. The struggle I described above comes from believing lies the enemy says about who I am and my significance. But there are also dishonest beliefs I tell myself: I should be at the next level, or I should have more of an impact. Those kinds of thoughts usually lead us to question God with self-focused statements like God, when will it be my turn? Or God, why won’t you let me…? We all want God to trust us with the corner office but get disgruntled when He starts us in the mailroom.
And there’s the test our verse warns us not to fail. If I am unfaithful in the little things, God will not entrust me with greater responsibilities. I used the word test intentionally, but we will remain discouraged if that’s what we focus on. Your current position isn’t just a test. It’s a training ground and a mercy. We always strive for responsibilities and positions we’re not truly ready for and would fail at if given the opportunity. We think we’re ready long before we are. But God cultivates us spiritually, emotionally and even physically for the greater things He’s prepared us to do. The point isn’t the test itself but what we’re supposed to learn for the test as we grow closer to God. If we want to be entrusted with the next level of responsibility, we must be motivated by what God is trying to reveal to us at this level.
APPLICATION:
When discouraged by your work or current role, focus on what God reveals about Himself and your relationship with Him.
PRAYER:
Ask God to reveal where you are being dishonest with yourself or others in your work. Confess any selfish ambitions you discover in your heart and ask Him to show you what He’s trying to teach you in this season. Tell God you want to be drawn closer to Him as you learn so you can serve Him better.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?