We tend to seek wisdom only when we face an overwhelming crisis, and thus we miss an important truth: there is wisdom in the small things, the small choices. The seemingly minor decisions require wisdom just as much as the seemingly monumental ones. In fact, we find ourselves in so many crises precisely because we fail to seek wisdom sooner rather than later. Whatever we are entrusted with, whether great or small, it is never inconsequential. The implications of faithfulness cannot be overestimated and must never be underestimated.
When we work hard, our talents begin to be harnessed. Sometimes we will be called to serve outside of our most significant abilities, but even then the effect can be both positive and substantial. Developing our talents is critical to maximizing our life impact; yet more important than this is the development of our character. Faithfulness is about making significant those tasks entrusted to us that further the common good. How we handle small decisions today will be the same way we'll act in our greatest moments of decision.
Perseverance is the fruit of faithfulness. Faithfulness accelerates wisdom. Whenever we are faithful with little, when we are trustworthy in the small matters, we accelerate our journey to wisdom. Faithfulness by its very essence implies time. Faith we can have in a moment; faithfulness takes a bit longer.
Jesus doesn't say we need to have more faith; He tells us we just need to have some [Matthew 17:20]. It is not our faith in an event that is critical, but our faith in God Himself. It is not about believing in a miracle or believing for a miracle; it is about an unshakable confidence in the character of God.
When we consider Matthew 11:4-6, we wonder why anyone would be tempted to fall away from a God who works so miraculously? Because although God can do all that was described, He is also the God who calls us to the greatest levels of sacrifice. There are moments when our greatest act of faith is to simply remain faithful. Faith is not always a way out of a crisis -- in fact, it rarely is -- but faith gives us the strength and confidence to see every challenge and crisis through to the end. Faith is a confidence in God that results in faithfulness. That faithfulness gives us the power to persevere.
For Jesus, wisdom wasn't just downloaded from heaven. When He became a man, He didn't cheat. He gained wisdom through the same process that we are invited to employ. He knew what to say because morning by morning He opened His ears and heart and became a student. The wisdom of God comes to those who walk with God. And the path is neither easy nor safe. It is difficult to think of Jesus as having to gain wisdom. We tend to think of Jesus as always complete in every way. To see this clearly, we only need to remember that Jesus came into this world as a baby. He had to learn everything from scratch -- how to eat, how to walk, how to speak, how to read, how to live -- just as we do.
No one journeys the path to wisdom without significant obstacles and hardship. We will all face the temptation to rebel or perhaps draw back, yet if we hold fast we will find the light of day. Remember that God loves to entrust even more to those of us who are faithful with what we have.
Faithfulness keeps our character from going bad. While the small things do not seem so very important in the moment, they have incredible ramifications over the long haul. It is not usually the great challenges that cause successful leaders to fall, it is often carelessness in the small things. There are countless examples in recent history alone from the Oval Office where the President of the United States is alone with an intern, on down to the televangelist caught fleecing the flock or visiting houses of ill repute, and finally all the way down to the business on the corner where the controller is embezzling funds. The 24 hour cable news cycle is replete with such examples. When it comes to character the details really do matter. In our quest for honor, we really do have to sweat the small stuff. Great leaders in a very real way come out of nowhere. We must never underestimate the weightiness of small matters.
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