Cultivating Faithfulness
Being Faithful in Small Ways
Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.
- Luke 16:10
To be faithful is to be consistent in small and big ways over time. To call a friend faithful means that the friend has been there for us through many ups and downs, through some of the most significant moments of our lives, as well as many of the mundane ones.
Much of the work of faithfulness happens without anyone noticing. There is a saying that you can best judge a person’s character by knowing how they act when no one is around, when there is absolutely nothing to be gained by their actions. As Brian Cole wrote, faithfulness is not about appearances but about being deeply grounded in the Real.
Jesus taught that whoever is faithful in very little is faithful also in much. This is good news because it means we don’t have to focus on big heroic acts of faithfulness, but instead can focus on the “little” things, such as how we speak to everyone we meet, the choices we make to nurture our spiritual lives, and the small act of compassion we might offer to someone in need today. Over time, such small acts of faithfulness create not just a series of kind acts, but a soil of faithfulness from which all the fruits of the Spirit can continue to thrive.
Making it Personal: Consider a small act of faithfulness that someone, maybe even a stranger, has done for you recently. With this in mind, is there a small act of faithfulness that you wish to do for someone today? What do you think of the idea that “whoever is faithful in very little is faithful also in much”?
Listen To Our Lent Podcast Episodes
We also invite you to listen to the Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness Podcast hosted by Scott Stoner. This is a year-round, weekly podcast; however, during Lent, there will be two new episodes each week to enrich your experience of our Lenten readings on Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit.
You can listen to the podcast on our website by clicking HERE. You can also find this podcast in your favorite podcast listening app (Apple, Google, Spotify, etc.)—just search for Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness