Our current world is one where generally people step over others to get to the top. Telling lies is accepted as the norm. Breaking promises is expected. But what if we decide to be faithful and totally honest, one day at a time? If we say we will do something, as Christians, we should do it, no matter what gets in our way on the day of the event. If we always tell the truth, we will be known as one to be trusted.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t trust any politician, not even the ones who say that they are Christians. Why not? Because they make promises they don’t keep. I’m not sure about their intentions or the roadblocks in their way, but I do know the end result is they don’t seem trustworthy to me. Not only do they break promises, many politicians lie…small lies, big lies. The size of the lie doesn’t matter. The fact that I heard them tell a lie matters to me a lot. Thus it is hard for me during the election season, with ads on every radio and TV station that tout all that the candidate will do for me once in office. Hmm. If they have already been in office and haven’t taken care of the business they said they would, why would I believe their new lies for a new office? The answer is that I don’t. The dilemma is that there is a hard choice to make when voting because I don’t think anyone running for office is totally honest or trustworthy. However, I do have to choose, so I will vote for the candidates who have done the best job of keeping their word and being honest, even if their score is not 100%. I try not to judge them on their relationship to Christ because that is between them and God, but I do my due diligence and investigate to the best of my ability how their stance measures up to God’s Word. Like I said, hard choices.

In a perfect world, people would be honest with each other all the time. No lies or subterfuge, but honesty and keeping promises. That is what builds our character for ourselves and in the opinion of others. It is also what makes us more like Jesus. And isn’t that the ultimate goal?

The Path to Success

There are many definitions for success in today’s culture. For some, success is defined by the number of accomplishments we’ve made, or the number of possessions we’ve attained.

Jesus’ definition of success is counter-cultural. It has nothing to do with our accomplishments or our possessions—it has everything to do with our character.

Jesus’ teaching in Luke 16:10 is primarily about the content of our character. He says that those who are trusted with small things will be entrusted to larger things. Those who are faithful with what they’ve been given will be given the opportunity to be faithful over more. And those who are dishonest, unfaithful, and untrustworthy, will do the same with what they’re given.

It’s not ultimately important to Jesus whether we are financially successful in life. What’s more important is what we do with what we’ve already been given.

Little acts of faithfulness every day is how our character is shaped over time. The small decisions and the hard decisions are what create us into people of trust and honesty.

If you’re asking God for more in life, make sure that you’re being faithful with the things He has already given you. Use the resources and opportunities you have to build trust and honesty with other people.

God is looking to use people of character. Pray for God to increase your character and to give you the opportunities to become a person who is faithful and honest in every area of life.