The Little Things

In many ways, Jesus warned us to be alert to the little things. To even be faithful in them. Today we are going to talk about this topic by looking at a few parables Jesus told.

Like a sliver in your finger, if you don’t take care of it, it can lead to pain, swelling, and even infection. When we don’t pay attention to the little things they can have untold effects on our lives, our faithfulness, and our effectiveness for the kingdom.

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Parable #1

Matthew 25:1–13 ESV

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

There are a few key principles to be aware of:

The first key: Jesus is coming back. We need to be prepared for his return. Paul writes this to the church in Thessaloniki.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–4 ESV

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

This parable reminds me of the church. Some attend church with hearts prepared. They are devoting their lives, their wealth, their all to the kingdom of God.

Others are coasting. Trusting in past mountain top experiences or spiritual platitudes to allow them to coast into the kingdom.

This parable is a strong warning to those who are not putting their all into the kingdom. Walking with God is an all or nothing proposition.

Second Parable:

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

When Jesus returns their will be an accounting of all those who claim to serve him.

The second key: We all must ask ourselves, “What are doing with all that God has given us?”

Looking at individuals and individual churches, we must simply look at our ability and see if we are being faithful.

We don’t compare ourselves to others. Their ability or capacity might be different than our own.

Third Parable:

Luke 16:1–13 ESV

1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

A negative example of a positive principle.

What did the shrewd manager do. He took what was available to him in order to influence others to be his friend after he lost his job.

The third key: In this parable Jesus encourages his disciples to use worldly wealth as a means to an end and to not view it as it’s own end.

He then asks a couple of questions that we need to answer.

Luke 16:11 ESV

11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

How do we answer this? Are we using our money and possessions as a vehicle for the gospel and eternal things?

Luke 16:12 ESV

12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

What belongs to God?

Are we being faithful?

What are the little things that we are responsible for?

As stewards of what God has given us, we must ask if we are using for his kingdom or our comfort?

Are we taking care of them so that he will entrust us with true riches.

A Season of Stewardship:

I believe that God is calling us into a season of stewardship. A time to care for the little things.

All we have belongs to him.

Yesterday a handful of hardworking people cleaned out the church.

We didn’t do this to just open up space. We did it because our stewardship to this building was lacking because of it. Hidden behind the piles of unused chairs, old props and decorations were walls in need of repair. Rooms made useless. Useful equipment buried beneath the broken.

By taking this step.

By building our shed.

By repairing our garage.

By honoring the lord’s gift of this property to us.

We are preparing for the the true riches. The souls that God will entrust to us for generations to come.

As a church, we must be commited to this faithful service even as we look for those greater riches to flow into our fellowship.

It begins with each one asking:

Is your lamp filled with oil?

Are you using what you have been given?

Are you in love with God or does what he has given you have you trapped in comfort and sidelined in the mission of the kingdom.