Jim Gallagher

1 Chronicles 26:13
“And they cast lots for each gate, the small as well as the great, according to their father’s house.”

As David recounts those who would serve in the various capacities within the house of the Lord, he reminds us that all service, small or great, is determined by the Lord. Those who would attend to the gates of the city were chosen by lot. A person given charge over a lesser gate, needed to serve with the same faithfulness as one who served at a larger gate. This is a key principle in ministry. Jesus put it like this,

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” Luke 16:10-12

The principle is simple. If we are faithful in little, we will be given more, if we are unfaithful with little, we will not be entrusted with more. It is interesting how we often want to do great things for God, yet we are not involved in doing little things for the Lord. It is also interesting what Jesus considers to be the “little things.”

He says we must first be faithful with money before we will be trusted with true riches. One of the key ways to prepare for Christian service is to be faithful with your giving. Paul wrote, each man should give as he purposes in his own heart (2Corinthians 9:7). Each of us bears the responsibility of sitting before the Lord, determining what portion of our income we will give back to Him. That money should then be given weekly at your local church. As we prove responsible with finance we will be entrusted with greater riches.

He also says we must be faithful with what belongs to another. The picture here is that of placing ourselves under another in service. Before we will be trusted with a ministry of our own, we must faithfully serve alongside others, learning how to be under authority. One of the most important character traits of an elder is that he not be self-willed. We learn how to set our will aside when we serve under others.

In what capacity are you currently serving the Lord? Are you being faithful with the opportunities that are in front of you, or are you waiting for your big break to come? Let’s follow the example of those who served alongside David; be faithful in the little things.

Pastor Jim