Monday, October 24, 2011

What Jesus Said about Your Money, Part 27 of 31

TEXT: "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much" (Luke 16:10).

IDEA: Faithfulness is no accident; it comes from what we are and from what we do.

PURPOSE: To help listeners to realize that the small things and big things are all part of the same thing.

Does the formation of our character—what we are as people—work from the inside out or from the outside in?

When Jesus says, "He that is faithful in the least is faithful also in much," what exactly is He saying? Restate it.

What "least" is He talking about?

I. Would it be correct to say that you need to give attention to how you use your money in order to be faithful to Christ?

Would it be more correct to say, "If you are faithful to Christ, you will be trustworthy in the money He gives you"?

II. Suppose you want to be faithful to Christ (trustworthy = worthy of being trusted), what could you do?

God has to do something in your heart.

You may have given attention to small things to see that virtue develop in your life: you've used your money wisely for God's kingdom.

III. In the broader area of virtue, does the principle apply? It comes from what we are and what we do.

• Lying
• Love