On Faithfulness
In speaking to a group of ministers, Fred Craddock noted the importance of being faithful in the little things of life.
He said: "To give my life for Christ appears glorious. To pour myself out for others...
to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom--I'll do it.
I'm ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory.
"We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table--'Here's my life, Lord. I'm giving it all.'
"But the reality for most of us is that He sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid's troubles instead of saying, 'Get lost.'
Go to a committee meeting.
Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home.
"Usually giving our life to Christ isn't glorious.
It's done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time.
It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it's harder to live the Christian life
little by little over the long haul."
Ask the Lord to show you how you can spend your life well.[i]
Such an accurate echo of Jesus’ words in Luke 16:10a "Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much…
Jesus also gives us an exhortation with a warning in Matthew 24: 44-47:
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
"Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.
And again in Matthew 25: 31-40:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'
And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
Luke 12:48 From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
Reflect on:
What are some of the “little things”…the 25 cent services…that you would rather NOT do—especially when there is something you WANT to do for which you know you’ll receive thanks/credit/appreciation?
v Hospital visitation?—oh, no, [my pastor or my friend with the gift of Mercy] is better at that sort of thing?
v Helping with Vacation Bible School?—not my gift or passion.
v Stopping to actually listen to someone when they are speaking…not simply preparing your response in your head or a plan of escape.
In June of 2003, my parents commemorated 45 years of marriage. The next month, we celebrated my Dad’s 80th birthday. Joy. Festivity. Remembrance.
But, that year also marked seven long years of struggle with my Dad’s debilitating strokes and housing in a nursing home. My Mom’s days were made up of speaking for him, washing his hands before meals, putting a bib on him, cutting his meat, reading to him, praying with him, shaving him, brushing his teeth…etc. My mother spent her lifetime…and most especially the what became not just seven but ten years of daily care for Dad--putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Nothing splashy. Nothing that made her even remotely famous by the world’s definition. But, she gave God her $1,000 worth of quarters…faithfully…prayerfully…devotedly. Out of love for God and for her husband and family.
One of her favorite verses was Colossians 3:23-24:
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Guided prayer:
[Take a moment to still your heart in readiness to listen for God’s voice.]
Ask: Where shall I serve You today, Lord?
Think of: One person or one situation where you could provide the food, drink, clothing, care, transportation, note, visitation, etc. to meet an unmet need.
Ask God to enable you…to open your eyes to see, ears to hear, and heart to care…that you might be faithful in the little things.
Pray the words of St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
...where there is injury, pardon;
...where there is doubt, faith;
...where there is despair, hope;
...where there is darkness, light;
...where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
...to be consoled as to console;
...to be understood as to understand;
...to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
...it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
...and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Important resources:
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Shirley Giles Davis, author of God's Affirmations For You: A Book of Encouragement—A 12-Week Devotional Practice, the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.
Photo © Shirley Giles Davis.
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[i] From God's Little Devotional Book for Women, page 167.