Praise Chapel Of Anaheim
“Honesty In Small Matters”
Pastor Albert Garcia
Sunday, August 16, 2009

TEXT: Luke 16:10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

INTRODUCTION: These words are part of the parable of the unjust steward.

ü Here Jesus is teaching a powerful principle.

ü He is teaching that whoever is dishonest and unfaithful in small matters will be dishonest and unfaithful in everything.

ü With this in mind I want to speak on four areas.

o What this principle does not mean.

o What this principle does mean.

o Five principles that govern those who are unfaithful in the small matters while being faithful in the greater matters. (What motivates a person who is unfaithful in small matters to be faithful in the greater matters).

o What unfaithfulness in small matters reveals.

I. WHAT THIS PRINCIPLE DOES NOT MEAN.

a. It does not mean that if a person is dishonest and unfaithful in small matters that he or she will necessarily be dishonest and unfaithful in greater matters.

b. For example.

1. A person may commit petty theft and never rob a bank.

2. A spouse may indulge in unclean thoughts and never commit adultery.

3. A person may be angry with his neighbor and never commit murder.

4. A person may neglect small debts and never be late on their mortgage payment.

5. A person may be unfaithful to their ministry and never leave the church.

6. AS YOU CAN SEE ONE MAY BE DISHONEST IN SMALL MATTERS WHILE BEING FAITHFUL IN THE GREATER MATTERS.

7. NOTE: So this principle does not really mean that he who is dishonest and unfaithful in the small matters will necessarily be dishonest and unfaithful in the greater matters.

II. WHAT THIS PRINCIPLE DOES MEAN.

a. It does mean that If a person is dishonest in small matters, while being honest in greater matters it shows that this person is not governed by principle.

1. They must have a motive other than honesty and the fear of God governing their behavior in the greater matters.

2. When a person is governed and regulated by the fear of God they will be honest and faithful in the great matters as well as in the small matters.

3. When a person truly loves God and desires to please Him he will honest in the greater matters as well as in the smaller matters.

4. When a person is truly honest they will be honest in the greater matters as well as in the smaller matters.

III. FIVE PRINCIPLES THAT GOVERN THOSE WHO ARE UNFAITHFUL IN THE SMALL MATTERS WHILE BEING FAITHFUL IN THE GREATER MATTERS. (What motivates a person who is unfaithful in small matters to be faithful in the greater matters)

a. The fear of shame and disgrace.

1. For example: A person may be unfaithful in small matters because they know it will never be mentioned in public but will be honest and faithful in greater matters for fear it will be made known in public and thus bring shame and disgrace.

a. For example:

2. Jesus taught that no matter how much one tries to hide his sin it will eventually be found out.

a. Luke 12:2-3 “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

b. Fear of the law of men.

1. One may be late or maybe never show up or call to a dental appointment but would never consider being late to court for fear of the judge.

Matthew 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Numbers 32:23 “you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

c. The love of praise from men.

1. Some people are faithful to their ministries only when there is a big crowd in the church. (They want everyone to notice them) But when the numbers are low on a Wednesday night they treat their ministries with disloyalty and contempt.

2. Some would not even show up to church if they knew that the pastor was not going to be present.

a. These people are motivated by the praise of men rather than the love of God.

3. Jesus addressed this concerning certain leaders that wanted to follow Him but would not confess their faith in Him publically for fear that they would lose the applause of religious men.

John 12:42-43 “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

d. The fear of God’s judgment.

1. Some are unfaithful in matters such as loving, forgiving and being kind to others, but would never consider committing a gross sin or even stealing the Lord’s tithes and offerings for fear of divine wrath.

2. These individuals don’t serve God out of love but out of fear of judgment.

3. Jesus addressed this concerning the Pharisees and teachers of the law.

Matthew 23:23-24 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

e. The fear of financial ruin.

1. Some will neglect payment of small bills but would never consider being late on their mortgage for fear of ruining their credit.

IV. WHAT UNFAITHFULNESS IN SMALL MATTERS REVEALS.

a. The true state of a man’s heart and character.

1. The true state of a man’s heart and character is not revealed in how faithful he is in the greater matters but rather in how faithful he is in the small matters.

a. Your true heart and character is not revealed when you stand behind a pulpit but rather on how you treat your family at home.

1 Timothy 3:5 “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?

Charles Finney
“If you want to know your real character, watch your hearts, and see how your principles develop themselves in little things”

2. The man who is unfaithful in the small matters cannot be trusted in the greater matters.

a. If a man steals a pencil he will steal your wallet.

b. If a man is unfaithful to his ministry he will eventually be unfaithful to the Lord.

c. If a man is unfaithful to his wife with his thoughts he is just one step away from being unfaithful to her.

Matthew 5:28 “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

d. If a man cannot obey simple instructions he will not obey greater instructions should he be promoted to a greater place of responsibility.

b. The lack of fear of God.

1. If a person abstains from one sin and willingly indulges in another, he or she does not fear God or hate sin.

2. This person does not love God but rather is just afraid of God’s divine judgment.

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.

IN CLOSING: How faithful are you in the small things?

ü Our text clearly teaches that if one is unfaithful in the small matters he will be unfaithful in the greater matters.

ü How faithful are you?

o To church?

o To your ministry?

o To your spouse?

o To your children?

o To your small bills?

o To your pastor’s instructions?

o To your tithes?

o To your offerings?

o TO THE SMALL THINGS?

Charles Finney
“How important to cultivate the strictest integrity, such as will carry itself out in small things as well as in large. There is something so beautiful, when you see an individual acting in little things with the same careful and conscientious uprightness as in matter of the greatest moment. Until professing Christians will cultivate this universal honesty, they will always be a reproach to religion.”