Sermon in the Year 2025
Faithful in What Is Least

 

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All New Testament verses quoted in this article are from the English Majority Text Version, and Old Testament verses are from the King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

“He that is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in what is least is also unjust in much.” (Luke 16:10).

The term “faithful” (G4103) literally means reliable and is often understood as loyalty and dedication in fulfilling duties, obligations, or offices. This adjective is also used to describe the virtue of steadfast faith in the Lord and wholehearted obedience to Him among God’s people.

“What is least” refers to responsibilities, tasks, or opportunities that may seem insignificant in the eyes of men but serve as occasions to demonstrate faithfulness to the Lord and others, regardless of how minor their outcomes may appear.

In society:

• “What is least” may refer to managing small and insignificant material things, such as money or an employer’s property. A faithful person will not waste or steal anything that belongs to the employer, even if it is just a piece of paper, a pen, or a few coins.

• “What is least” may also refer to managing other seemingly insignificant resources belonging to the employer, such as a small amount of time during working hours. A faithful person will not waste time or use the employer’s time for personal matters instead of working.

In the Church:

• “What is least” may refer to an unimportant task, whether voluntary or assigned, such as arranging and cleaning the Church’s gathering place. A faithful person, once entrusted with a task, will not neglect it or perform it carelessly but will complete it diligently and on time.

• “What is least” may also refer to offering timely words of counsel, comfort, or encouragement to brothers and sisters in the Church, as this is a duty of God’s people toward one another. A faithful person is always eager to engage in fellowship with brothers and sisters in the Church.

In personal life:

• “What is least” may refer to keeping a small promise made to someone, such as the promise to pray for them.

• “What is least” may also refer to adhering to a schedule one has set or arriving on time for an appointment.

A person who “is faithful in what is least” is honest and dedicated to fulfilling even the smallest duties, obligations, or offices.

• Duty is what a person feels or is expected to do, often stemming from a natural role, responsibility, or personal moral obligation. It is intrinsic, related to conscience or personal relationships. For example, children have the duty to care for their parents when they grow old and weak.

• Obligation is a clearly defined responsibility, usually legal, social, or mandated by a rule, law, or voluntary commitment. It is external, imposed from the outside. For example, citizens have the obligation to pay taxes according to the law.

• Office is a specific position, task, or role that a person assumes, usually accompanied by certain authority and responsibilities within an organization, community, or relationship. There are offices in society such as secretary, director, president… There are offices in the Church such as shepherd, elder, deacon…

A person’s faithfulness “in what is least” reflects their careful, thoughtful, and self-respecting character, and surely, it becomes their habit. Therefore, when entrusted with a greater task, that person will also perform it faithfully, bringing about great success.

As God’s people, in addition to our duties, obligations, and offices in society, we also have duties, obligations, and offices in the Church. But it can be said that, for God’s people, every duty, obligation, and office in both society and the Church is also a duty, obligation, and office to the Lord. For the Word of God clearly teaches:

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

“And whatever you may do, work it from your soul, as to the Lord and not to men.” (Colossians 3:23).

Therefore, whether in society or in the Church, God’s people are called to live in such a way that all duties, obligations, and offices become acts of worship to the Lord.

“Much” refers to tasks of importance, requiring higher responsibility and having a broader influence in society or in the Church.

In society:

• “Much” may involve managing significant assets or overseeing many personnel for the employer.

• “Much” may refer to executive or leadership positions in private organizations or in government.

In the Church:

• “Much” may refer to executive or leadership positions, such as apostle, shepherd, elder, or deacon.

• “Much” also refers to the privilege of reigning with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Eternal Kingdom. Therefore, “much” is not only a great responsibility in the present but also the glory and reward that the Lord has prepared for those who are faithful in this life.

The term “unjust” (G94) literally means a lack of uprightness and is often used to refer to those who act deceitfully and treat others unfairly. In the Bible, this term is also used to refer to those who live in a way that does not align with the Word of God, and it can be translated into English as “the unjust.” This term is used by the Lord Jesus in Luke 16:10 to describe a person who does not complete their duties, obligations, or office with care and diligence, even if it is just “what is least.” The “unjust” the Lord refers to specifically denotes an attitude of unfaithfulness and dishonesty when managing what has been entrusted by the Lord or others, or what one has voluntarily taken on.

A person’s unjustness “in what is least” reflects their careless, arbitrary, and selfish character, and surely, it becomes their habit. Therefore, when entrusted with greater responsibilities, that person will also carry out their tasks in an “unjust” manner, leading to harmful consequences.

Unjustness cannot exist in the life of God’s people. Faithfulness is always a good quality of God’s people. Therefore, a true child of God will always demonstrate faithfulness in their way of life.

Every child of God in the Church is a prophet proclaiming the name of the Lord, so they will always be eager to “proclaim the Gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15); preach the Word of God, “be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2); and “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Every child of God in the Church is a priest of the God, so they will always be eager to make “supplications, prayers, intercessions” and make “thanksgivings on behalf of all men, on behalf of kings and all those who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1-2); faithfully present their bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to *God” every day (Romans 12:1).

Every child of God in the Church is a king and will reign with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven, so they will always be eager to rule over themselves.

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28).

“And everyone who competes exercises self-control in all things. Now they compete in order that they may receive a perishable crown, but we compete for an imperishable crown.” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

“But I treat my body roughly, and I bring it into subjection, lest, having preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

God’s people in the Church will also always be faithful in carrying out the governing offices the Lord has given them in society and in the Church (Romans 12:8).

Each of us is a vessel in the hands of the Lord (Isaiah 64:8), through whom God works His good deeds in this world and in the coming Kingdom of Heaven. Every small task we do is for the glory of God. Therefore, let us always be faithful in everything. And whenever we faithfully fulfill our duties, let us say to the Lord: “Lord! Thank You for granting me the grace to complete my duties.”

The Word of God teaches:

“So likewise you, whenever you do all the things having been commanded to you, say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what we ought to do.”” (Luke 17:10).

True children of God always learn from the gentleness and humility of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:29), so they will not have a spirit of pride. They rejoice when the Lord uses them to do good works but do not think it is because of their own ability. For they understand that they can do all things through the strength that comes from Christ (Philippians 4:13).

May the Word of God sanctify us and strengthen us. May we all stand firm in faith and remain faithful to the Lord until the day Christ returns. May the love, grace, and fellowship of the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, cover all of you. Amen!

Timothy Christian Huynh
Priscilla Christian Huynh
03/29/2025

Note:

About Using “*God” or “the God” and “holy spirit”

Wherever the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts of the Bible uses a definite article with a noun to denote GOD, we translate it into English as “*God” or “the God” to refer to God the Father. We understand that “God,” without a definite article, was used as a collective noun for all and any of the three Persons of the Godhead. And “God,” with a definite article, was used to refer to God the Father.

In the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, the term “holy spirit” (πνευματι αγιω) without the definite article “the” (το) is used to denote the power of God, which is given by God the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit” (το πνευματι το αγιω) is God, and “holy spirit” (πνευματι αγιω) is the power that comes from God.