Recently the topic of being diligent and faithful has been brought to my attention several times. As I’ve been thinking about things that have been said, the Holy Spirit has been reminding me of different verses from the Bible. So, here we go…“The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor.” (Proverbs 12:24)
“The hand of the diligent will rule.” Does that sound like something you would like in your life? It is an amazing thought to me because it may seem that you’re just plugging along doing what you’ve always done, because you just do what you’re supposed to do, but that diligence somehow prepares or positions you to rule!
“Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings, he will not stand before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22:29)
How about that! Standing before kings because of diligence- that’s pretty powerful stuff. What an opportunity!
“And he said to him, Well done, excellent bond servant! Because you have been faithful and trustworthy in a very little [thing], you shall have authority over ten cities.” (Luke 19:17)
Here’s an example of someone who has been faithful and trustworthy in little things. Because of that trustworthiness this person was put in authority over ten cities! That is a big responsibility to be given! Yet, it’s because of the faithfulness in the little things that this person was placed in that authority!
“He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]?” (Luke 16:10-12)
So then, if you’re faithful in the little things you will be faithful in much. It’s like because you’ve developed the pattern and habit of being faithful in the little things, you’ll just keep being faithful in the bigger things. The habits you develop in your private life then will affect your public life. Habits of faithfulness, even in the small things that no one sees except God, develop you to be faithful and trustworthy in the spotlight.
“Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].” (1 Corinthians 4:2)
For someone to trust you with something valuable of theirs they want to find you faithful. If they’ve seen that you’re trustworthy then they can feel confident giving their possession into your care. They know that you’ll take good care of it because they’ve seen your faithfulness.
“His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.” (Matthew 25:21)
May we each be found faithful by God Who has entrusted us with so many things. May He be able to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” to each of us when we stand before Him.
2 comments:
It's always the small things that are super hard to discipline yourself in. But, you're right, it's the small things that people in authority notice.
Solid post, Becca!
GREAT POST!!!
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