To Be Faithful with the Little Things - The Crosswalk Devotional - March 3

To Be Faithful with the Little Things 
By Deidre Braley 

Bible Reading:
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. - Luke 16:10

Something you should know is that we have a dog and three young children. That means that nothing in our house is ever entirely clean, and also that there’s so much hullabaloo on any given morning in our home that when the dog starts to chew a kid’s toy, it is the least of my worries. 

But it was not the least of our two-year-old’s worries the other morning. We were trying to get everyone on the school bus and out the door when our dog found one of the wooden “bolts” from his play toolbox and started to roll it around in his mouth. “Oh, stop that,” I said, prying it from his mouth. I tossed it back on the floor and wouldn’t have given it another thought, except that our horrified toddler cried, “Mommy, will you clean it?” 

I assured him I would, of course, and then I gave him a hug and a kiss and sent him out the door with my husband so everyone could make it to their morning destination on time. As soon as the house was silent, I went about my morning rounds of tidying just enough clutter so I could work at home without being utterly distracted by the mess. 

When I went back into his bedroom to gather up the dirty clothes and clear a path for walking on his floor, I saw the dog-slobbered toy. And I have to be honest here—I thought to myself, “He’ll never know,” and almost just tossed it back in his toolbox without washing it. But then a small voice whispered into my spirit, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” I was convicted. I took out a baby wipe and gently rubbed it down, then went on with my day. 

When he got home that night, can you guess what he asked me right away? “Mommy, you clean my toy?” It is hard to describe the relief I felt knowing I could honestly say, “Yes, I did.” Just like I said I would. 

To me, that little wooden bolt had felt inconsequential. My mind had been running through all the deadlines I needed to meet that day and all the more “important” things I needed to accomplish. But to my son, that was the important thing. If I hadn’t been faithful with that, how could he trust me to be faithful at all? 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Since that day, I’ve been surprised by how many opportunities I’ve had to be faithful in the little things—and how often I’ve been tempted to cut corners, thinking that no one will notice or care anyway. But after telling the parable of the shrewd manager, Jesus asks, “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own” (Luke 16:11-12)? In other words, the way we steward what we have today matters, and God sees the way we handle what he’s given to us to care for. The people around us do too. Our obedience in tending to the “little” things indicates the integrity of our character and whether we can also be trusted with the “big” things. 

As you go about your day today, I encourage you to keep Jesus’ words in your head: “Whoever can be trusted with very little…” Whenever you are tempted to cut a corner (like tossing that dog-slobbered toy back into the bin without washing it first), remember that this is an opportunity to be faithful—to show God and others that you are a person of integrity whom they can trust. 

Further Reading:
The Parable of the Faithful Steward: Luke 12:35-48
The Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:14-28
1 Peter 4:10

How did today’s devotional speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Crosswalk Devotional discussion.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/shapecharge 

Deidre Braley is a wife and mother to three children. She is the author and host behind The Second Cup, a collection of essays, poems, and podcast episodes where holiness and humanity collide. She recently published her debut poetry collection, The Shape I Take. Deidre is an editor with The Truly Co, and a contributor for The Way Back to Ourselves and Aletheia Today, among others. Her ideal day is spent eating chocolate croissants and having long chats about writing, dreams, and theology. Connect with Deidre on Instagram @deidrebraley.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!

Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!