I could not count the times I have heard someone say, “It’s no big deal.” This is usually said when someone has failed to do what they were supposed to do. They are trying to justify their behavior. Many times, they will classify the task as little or big, and think it’s no big deal because it was a small task. However, this is contrary to what scripture teaches.
In Luke chapter 16, Jesus is teaching about the unfaithfulness of a steward. This steward is someone who had been entrusted to take care of the finances of his employer. He is given control and is expected, and trusted, to do the job to the satisfaction of his employer. When it is time to give an account to the boss, he is fired because he did not do his job. His simple job was to collect the debts owed to his employer. He contemplates what he will do while in the process of being dismissed from his job. He determines that he cannot work hard manual labor. Note, nothing is said about this man being disabled, the “cannot” in verse three would be better translated as “will not.” He refuses to earn his wages by physical labor because he is lazy. He then looks at another alternative which was that of begging. His answer to that is that he would be too ashamed to beg. This reason is based on his pride. He was too proud to ask others to help him. Laziness and pride are both sins talked about much in the Bible. They are both very selfish sins that come from looking inward, not outward at the needs of others, or upward at the desires of God. These are sins that demonstrate a person thinks more of themselves than they do of anyone else, even Jesus.
Instead of being sorrowful over what he has done, he decides to again take matters into his own hands and take one more opportunity to better himself at his employer’s expense. He decides to collect what was owed to his employer, but at a discounted rate. Of course, those who owed the money were grateful for the deal, they paid what was asked, and went on their way. The steward kept the money for himself. He was not only a lazy steward by not doing his job, but he was also a thief and a liar. He was unfaithful in every respect.
Luke 16:3 “Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.”
Jesus makes it clear that the little things do matter. The little things become “a big deal” when they are not done right. So many people want big jobs and recognition before they have proven they can handle the little things. They seek attention for themselves and get mad when the recognition doesn’t come. God wants us to trust Him to take care of our lives.
In verse Luke 16:11 Jesus asks the question “if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches.” The word mammon is referring to earthly wealth. The unrighteous mammon would be the things of this world. If the small thing of being a good and honest employee is beyond your faithfulness, then how can Jesus trust you with the truly valuable riches of spiritual things. Jesus is simply saying if you have not been faithful in the little things I have entrusted unto you, how can I trust you to be faithful in more.
Luke 16:10-11 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”
The true riches of the believer are the things of God. We have been entrusted with the gospel, the most precious and valuable thing anyone can obtain. We are to share that with anyone and everyone we can. We have the marvelous riches of His grace, His mercy, and the promise of eternal life in Heaven.
Are you being faithful in the little things God has entrusted to you? Are you using the resources He has given you to reach others and show His love? All that we have are gifts He has entrusted to us and we are to use all for His glory. Stop comparing what you have with others and thinking that when you have more money or more time, you will share with others. Take what God has placed in your hand today and invest it in furthering the Kingdom of God. You will never know what God can do in your life until you start taking care of the little things. The little things are a big deal!
