In the Kingdom of God, trivial matters matter, and one insignificant decision can build or break trust. The topic of trust, where it is placed, where it is misplaced, and what can occur when trust is broken is heavily discussed in today’s passage.
Because trust is one of the pillars of life that helps keep the world going, we all have stories about it. We believe that there will be sufficient oxygen, water, and food and that the sun will rise tomorrow.
When we drive through town, we trust that people will follow traffic signals and signs. Even though we do not often consider it, trust is a currency that we are all familiar with.
Keeping that in mind, when was the most recent time you considered putting your faith in God? It probably has not been that long ago, given the chaotic and fast-paced world we live in. However, the real issue of the day is as follows: “Can God trust us with the trivial things?”
It is difficult to respond to this question. Since most of us do not even trust ourselves, how could God trust us?
However, God’s plan was and is still, for some reason, to use human beings like us to build the church, spread the gospel, and serve as ambassadors of reconciliation to a lost and broken world.
He has been making use of imperfect people for thousands of years, and as it was 2,000 years ago, He has some things to say about why trust is just as important today.
Our primary passage comes from a larger portion of the Bible in which Jesus frequently uses parables to teach.
“The Parable of the Shrewd Manager” is frequently used to refer to our particular parable today. The parable’s first and most important lesson is that even trivial thingsmatter.
What Is the Parable of the Shrewd Manager?
It appears that this manager is in trouble and needs to provide some clarification. However, what do you believe he did, and how did the wealthy man become so enraged with him?
There is a good chance that it was not just one thing, but rather, it was the sum of many small things. The wealthy man probably reached a breaking point after hearing too many negative stories about his manager.
How many can recognize this? Has anyone ever felt this way about your children if you are a parent? Has anyone ever had an experience like this as a manager or business owner? Has anyone ever caused trouble for you? Has anyone ever overstepped a parent or boss?
We rarely reach the “end of our rope” with a single thing. Rather, it is frequently a series of minor issues.
In addition to introducing the main point, these first verses also provide some background and characters for the parable; trivialthings matter.
Positively and negatively, they add up. We occasionally find ourselves asking, “What shall I do now?” just like the clever manager did.
The manager makes a hasty decision to do some creative accounting with his bosses’ debtors after a quick review of his options for employment.
He uses his current network to ensure his own safety in the future. He goes by the presumption that if he makes enough deals and asks for enough favors, he will accumulate a backlog of favors that he can call on when things get tough.
It is interesting to note that his deceitful decision-making and cunning shrewdness were probably the same things that got him into trouble in the first place; however, he needs to tap into his skills and find a way out. Which he does, which is amazing, and even more amazing is that his wealthy boss praises him for it.
What a bizarre development. The dishonest manager steals his boss’s potential profits but is praised for it? Is it possible that Jesus mixed up his parables?
Is it possible that this parable does not resonate with Him in the same way as His other ones because He is worn out from traveling and teaching? Or maybe we are not getting the point, and we need to look at this one a little more closely.
Since Jesus frequently spoke about the Kingdom of God, it makes sense that this could be a parable. It could be a parable about using your worldly wealth for good in this life with an eye toward a hopeful future.
How Does it Apply to Us Today?
I doubt that any of us would want our children to look up to the shrewd but dishonest manager. However, the parable does show us how significant even seemingly trivial things can be in our lives. Small choices can have a big effect.
Doing someone a favor can pay off big eventually. We could lose our job for a few indiscretions. All of it seems to point to this, and Jesus is able to bring all of these “trivial” revelations together to provide us with the greater revelation.
With these few verses, Jesus brings it all together and gives us a fundamental life principle that we have probably all experienced at some point. We will not be trusted with a lot if we cannot handle a little.
The trivial things matter. Little choices add up. This is such an essential concept to acquire early on, and it applies not only to your faith life but to life in general.
Our relationships, occupation, way of thinking, monetary management, aspirations, and so forth, etc. This list could go on forever.
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches” (Matthew 13:31-32).
Like a tiny seed, trust starts small. Additionally, like a mustard seed, we can expand its scope as it develops. As we take on more responsibility, others come to trust us.
All of this brings us back to the awkward inquiry at the outset, Can God trust us with the trivial things? Are we faithful even in the smallest aspects of life? Or are we complicit in sin? Are there things we are holding onto that we do not want to give to Jesus?
A Final Thought
I think we can all admit that we still need to give God control of some aspects of our lives. We have been holding onto them, trying to control them, and hoping that they will “work themselves out.” However, as Jesus so eloquently states at the end of our passage, “You cannot serve both God and money” (v. 13).
To put it another way, we need to be ready to “go all-in” for Jesus in our lives. We need to be firm about removing sin from our lives, and we need to stop giving in to the small flaws in our character.
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom (Song of Solomon 2:15).
Once again, the trivial things matter. Tiny foxes destroy the vineyard. We cannot serve God and ourselves. We cannot serve God and money. Nor can we serve God and our careers with the same devotion.
He is urging us to live devoted, righteous, and faithful lives in everything from trivial things to the important things.
Therefore, if this seems to be what anyone is dealing with today, I would like to extend an invitation to dedicate ourselves to the trivial things this coming week. Get rid of those tiny foxes from our homes. Be deliberate when making decisions.
Additionally, if we must make amends somewhere, do so. When necessary, ask for forgiveness and offer it in turn. We are all familiar with the value of trust, and God expects us to be trustworthy as we obey and submit to Him.
For further reading:
What Is the Parable of the Talents?
Is the Kingdom of God Really in Us?
How Is Representing Christ a Great Responsibility?
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