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

Generally, when we hear this phrase taught in our churches, the leaders will try to identify some specific “thing” which is least.

The context here seems to be all about money. And how we conduct our “business” in the world. And so, this passage has become a favorite of pastors who like to preach in January about tithing and giving. They focus on how much we value our money in relation to the Lord’s work. Such as the needs of the church, or missions, or other places where our money could be used.

Others may focus on our personal Bible study, or service, or love, or on a thousand other things. With the belief that IF we will just focus on that one thing well, we will also be counted to have been faithful in much.

It’s like a kind of strategy for success in the Christian life. Like a salesman looking for special tips on how he can close a sale. Or someone trying to get a job who practices giving the right answers to potential interview questions.

Or just a way to simplify the complexities of the Christian life. Because churches are all about that these days. About how we just need to focus on “love”.

Their reasoning is that IF we focus on love, in the ways our leaders tell us to do, then that focus will take care of everything else.

But I don’t think this passage is talking about any of those things.

What is the least thing that we can do?

What is the thing that everyone can do? Regardless of time, money, resources, opportunity, talent, etc.?

The Least We Can Do

That thing is our personal communion with the Lord.

It is the quality of the time we spend with Him. Thinking of Him. Reading His word. Meditating on His word. Listening for His voice. Waiting on Him.

It comes back to our moment-by-moment prayer life.

And this is Not about some “spiritual discipline” that many today try to get us to do. As in making prayer lists and going through those lists (some maybe even going through them daily for hours), or “spending time in prayer”, or “having devotions”.

I think much of what we are being taught has less to do with our time with the Lord Himself, and more about fulfilling some spiritual tasks.

And, even as I write this, I can think of a fellow believer who is all about “discipline”. His life is based on this very regimented approach to the Christian life. In fact, I can think of a whole bunch of believers like this.

And the differences between them generally seem to be over which disciplines they have chosen to focus on. Which things they have decided to make the cornerstone or benchmark of their “faithfulness”. Like a spiritual thermometer or measuring stick which they use to monitor their own devotion.

This type of thinking is growing in Bible churches. The idea that there are many kinds of disciplines that we must engage in so that we will progress or grow in the Lord.

The Catholics, and others, often refer to this as “spiritual formation”.

Which, according to them, is a process by which people grow in the Lord. Which can involve meditation, special prayers, focusing on a biblical word or phrase, listening to spiritual music, creating a “prayer closet” or “room” with a special meditative atmosphere, walking a labyrinth, burning candles and incense, and a whole bunch of other things.

These practices are all part of a movement called “contemplative spirituality” – which has nothing to do with biblical meditation. Nothing to do with growing closer to the Lord.

But getting back to the main point . . .

Moment By Moment

True prayer is like breathing. It is our talking with the Lord – with “open face” (II Corinthians 3:18) in our daily walk in life. As we would talk with a friend who is in the car with us, or sitting at breakfast with us, or taking a hike with us.

It does not mean we are physically on our knees. Nor that our eyes are closed. Or reading off a list of prayer requests that others have given us over the weeks and months.

This is about our honest, straight-forward communication with the Lord. Such as when the Lord brings someone to mind, we simply ask the Lord to help them, according to His will.

Or to ask Him to guide our day as we go in to talk with the boss. Or with a colleague. Or as we face a hard day. Or as we head to the doctor for an exam. Or we consider how we are going to pay our bills.

In other words, the Lord wants to be involved in our life. To be involved in those details of our lives that are least. In the tiny little things.

In fact, even how we think about things enters into this whole idea. Because of our inability to even think correctly about stuff that is happening to us.

Which, if you think about it, is at the core of most of our problems. Our anxiety over stuff that is happening around us or to us or that is out of our control.

Which, by the way, is most everything. Our inability to manage the events and circumstances of life.

And then there’s one other thing . . .

Our Real Work

When we pray for the Lord to take care of things, even something that happened 50 years ago, this is our real “work”. Allowing Him to come into our past, our present, and our future to intervene.

To make things right. To heal any damage we may have done. To correct any misunderstandings we may have caused. To set right all the things in our lives.

Even as we try to help people in our lives that we don’t really know, maybe have only read about or heard about in passing, and may never know. This is how we can spiritually minister to people anywhere; by asking the Lord to help them and intervene for them according to His will.

Nothing else that we will ever do compares to these simple, fleeting prayers.

Our simple intercession for people. Maybe as we are driving to work (with our eyes open!). Or walking the dog. Or working in the garden. Or doing our taxes. Or taking out the garbage.

We do two things when this happens.

One, we walk through our lives with the Lord. Allowing Him to be in every part of our lives. And we get closer to Him. We get to know Him better. To know His mind. To know His will.

And two, we keep His name before the throne of God. We draw on the bank of heaven, in Jesus name – fulfilling our duties as “priests” for others. Interceding for them. Bringing their needs before the Lord (Who already knows their needs).

In this way, we supernaturally affect the lives of others for eternity.

Image by Jirreaux Hiroe from Pixabay