1 Chronicles 9:28-32: a reflection

28Certain of them were in charge of the vessels of service, for these were brought in by count, and these were taken out by count. 29Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the spices. 30Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices. 31Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans. 32Some of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every Sabbath.

Among the Levites who served in the house of God were some given charge of the vessels and stores, and the account notes the care with which they handled what was entrusted to them: they were in charge of the vessels of service, for these were brought in by count, and these were taken out by count. Others were appointed over the furniture, the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the spices; one had charge over what was baked in pans, others over the showbread. Each was entrusted with something and was faithful in it, careful even to count the vessels in and out. Their faithfulness showed in the careful handling of what was entrusted to them.

Notice the trustworthiness shown in the details: the vessels counted in and out, each store and task carefully kept. These were not glamorous duties, keeping the flour and oil, counting the vessels, baking what was to be baked; but they were entrusted to particular people, and those people were faithful in them, careful even in the counting. Their faithfulness was in the details, in the trustworthy handling of what was placed in their charge. Nothing was too small to be handled with care; the vessels were counted, the stores kept, each task done faithfully. Trustworthiness in the entrusted details, however small, was the mark of their service.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to be trustworthy in the details of what God entrusts to us, however small. We can think faithfulness is only about the large and visible things, and be careless in the small details entrusted to us; but these Levites were faithful in counting the vessels, keeping the stores, handling carefully what was placed in their charge. Trustworthiness in the small, entrusted details is a real faithfulness. Do not be careless in the small things entrusted to you, thinking faithfulness is only about the large; be trustworthy in the details, as these Levites counted the vessels in and out. Be trustworthy in the details of what God entrusts to you, however small, handling them with care as these Levites counted the vessels and kept the stores; for faithfulness is shown in the careful handling of what is entrusted to us, and trustworthiness in small details is a real service to God, not beneath his notice.

Lord, among the Levites who served in the house of you were some given charge of the vessels and stores, and the account notes the care with which they handled what was entrusted to them: they were in charge of the vessels of service, for these were brought in by count, and these were taken out by count. Others were appointed over the furniture, the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the spices; each was entrusted with something and was faithful in it, careful even to count the vessels in and out. Show me the trustworthiness shown in the details: the vessels counted in and out, each store and task carefully kept. These were not glamorous duties; but they were entrusted to particular people, and those people were faithful in them, careful even in the counting. Their faithfulness was in the details, in the trustworthy handling of what was placed in their charge. Nothing was too small to be handled with care. Trustworthiness in the entrusted details, however small, was the mark of their service. Take that to my heart, for I am called to be trustworthy in the details of what you entrust to me, however small. I can think faithfulness is only about the large and visible things, and be careless in the small details entrusted to me; but these Levites were faithful in counting the vessels, keeping the stores. Trustworthiness in the small, entrusted details is a real faithfulness. Keep me from being careless in the small things entrusted to me, thinking faithfulness is only about the large; help me be trustworthy in the details, Lord, as these Levites counted the vessels in and out.