Scripture Daily

Context No. 3846 of 4322 · Luke

Context · Reflection

Luke 19:15-19: in context

15“When he had come back again, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business. 16The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’ 17“He said to him, ‘Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18“The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.’ 19“So he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’

In this part of the parable of the minas, a nobleman returns as king and calls his servants to account for the money he had entrusted to them. Two faithful servants have put their master's money to work and multiplied it, one turning one mina into ten, another into five. And to the first the master says, well done, good servant; because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.

What stands out is the phrase, faithful in a very little. The servant had been given only a small sum, but he was faithful with it, and that faithfulness in a small thing led to a great reward and greater trust. God notices and honors faithfulness in the small responsibilities he gives us. We often long to do great things, but the master's commendation falls on the one who was faithful with a little. The way to be entrusted with more is to be faithful with what we already have, however small it seems. And the reward is generous beyond all proportion to the sum entrusted, authority over cities for the faithful handling of a single coin.

Am I being faithful with the little that God has entrusted to me, trusting that faithfulness in small things is what he notices and honors, and the path to being entrusted with more?

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