Faithfulness 3

Hello Everyone,

The characteristic of faithfulness needs to be cultivated in our Trustworthiness of Our Reliability

In Luke 16 we have the Parable of the Shrewd Manager. The concept of faithfulness is also demonstrated in this passage.

Interpreters disagree as to whether the discounting of what was owed was a honest move. Was the manager giving away something he himself did not own?

On the other hand maybe he was eliminating the interest payments his master may have overcharged the debtors.

Whichever it was, he was shrewd enough to use the means he had in order to plan for his future well-being.

The ingenuity of the manager was recognized and rewarded.

The important lesson for us here is that when an individual is given a responsibility, he must establish confidence.

Christ was not just addressing this parable to the 12 apostles or to the Seventy.

Through the inspiration of The Holy Spirit Christ is addressing all Believers then and Believers to come.

If we were not required to account for our actions, responsibility would be meaningless.

We must give an account of our time, talents, homes, bodies, speech, and possessions.

We must be accountable for everything God has entrusted to us.

Faithfulness in small things is taught in verse 10.

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10

Faithfulness is required in small matters as well as what would be considered to be important matters.

An office supply salesman noticed his sales of lead pencils seemed to triple in volume during the month of September. His comment about this phenomenon to several customers resulted in a close monitoring of the supplies. It was then discovered that certain employees repeatedly needed a larger supply of pencils during this period of time. Further inquiry resulted in an interesting discovery. These employees were all parents of schoolchildren; and school had resumed in September!

If our reliability (faithfulness) can be affirmed in small matters, it will stand the test of greater responsibility!

Some think ambition is sinful. Ambition when used to the GLORY of God is worthy of praise. The word comes from the Latin and means “canvassing for promotion.”

True leadership is achieved in selfless service to others and is wrapped in humility.

Some can have selfish ambition to control others, to enjoy power for power’s sake, and to be dishonest or manipulative in control of other people.

Jesus gave a different standard to His followers. The one who would be the greatest shall be the servant of all.

Psalm 126:5,6, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

What a wonderful confirmation of faithful effort!

The full extent of our influence through faithfulness may not always be evident.

The story is told of the time an evangelist was schedule to preach on a wintry day, and only one person showed up. The evangelist preached as if he had a full house.

About 20 years later, a stranger in Ohio reminded him of that wintry day, saying, “I am the one person who was in that service. Your sermon saved my soul, and I too became a minister. The converts of your sermon, sir, are scattered all over the state of Ohio.”

How faithful ARE WE in example, in stewardship, and in reliability?

Greater things are still to come!