I have established a good name with God and with others based on my long-term loyalty to those relationships.
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
Proverbs 3:3-4
In recent months, I have been struck with the desire to do more. A need arises, and I want to help above and beyond. A ministry shares their vision, and I yearn to give above and beyond. A venture opportunity presents itself, and I desire to be involved above and beyond. In every one of these instances and many more, I have felt God gently nudging me, saying, “Be faithful where you are.”
Maybe you can relate with the idea of wanting to do more. I catch myself often staring at the green grass on the other side of the fence and dreaming about doing more. My prayers look like this, “God, if you only give me more, I will give more,” or “If you give me greater influence, I can lead more people to Christ and godly living.” These might sound self-serving, and perhaps there is an element of that, but even in my purest moments when I deeply desire to do the most for the Kingdom, I sense God tenderly reminding me: “Be faithful where you are.”
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. Three servants are given a portion of money. One servant received $5000, one servant received $2000, and one servant received $1000. The first two servants put their portions to good use and doubled the amount they were given. The last servant went and buried his portion. In the end, the master returned to collect what he had given his servants. The last servant was rebuked for sitting on what he was given, but the first two were commended. The master blessed the first two servants saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21). Even though the portions given to the first two servants were different, their commendations were the same. So then, the rewards of the master have nothing to do with the results we produce, but rather with the faithfulness with which we steward that which he has given us.
I have often thought, why would the last servant (also called the lazy servant) do nothing with his portion? Why go and bury it or sit on it? I wonder if he looked at what others had and simply thought, “If only I had that portion, of course I could do much more.” His analysis led to paralysis.
Allow me to suggest two steps to cultivate faithfulness: Gratitude and Initiative. The Lord doesn’t have to bless us, but he does. Perhaps take a moment to list all the good things in your life. Start with the things you take for granted. Gratitude takes the focus off of others and what they have. It helps us to recognize and be thankful for all God has given us. Then, with a grateful attitude take the initiative to use what God has given you to be a blessing to others. Ask the question: What can I do with what God has given me? Then make it more specific: What can I do with my ability to play guitar? What can I do with my Spanish? What can I do with my extra time each Tuesday night? And continue to remember that God simply asks us to be faithful where we are.
PRAYER
Dear Father, please help me to take my eyes off of others and to be thankful for all you have given me. Would you help me to use all you have given me for your glory? Help me to live in such a way that at the end of my life, you would say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Amen.