March 23, 2012 | Leave a comment Today, Friday March 23, 2012, is the twenty-eighth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” unfaithfulness and “put on” faithfulness. Do you consider yourself dependable? Would others think you dependable, would they be willing to count on you? Can Jesus count on you? The Bible speaks of dependability in terms of faithfulness and unfaithfulness. 19 Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. Proverbs 25:19 (NASB) Toothaches are not any fun. Reminding someone of a toothache or a crippled foot is not good. Yet, according to this proverb if our reputation is being unfaithful, then we remind people of toothaches or crippled feet. Despite conventional wisdom faithfulness and unfaithfulness are not aspects of our character which we decide to implement based on our own knowledge, feelings or whim. Instead according to Jesus faithfulness and unfaithfulness, even in details which we might consider to be insignificant, are indicators of our genuine character. 10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. 11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12 “And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? Luke 16:10–12 (NASB) Dependability is a trait in His followers which Jesus prizes highly. When illustrating the little things about which our faithfulness or unfaithfulness may be judged Jesus speaks of wealth and that which is another’s. That we in the American church are increasingly unfaithful is illustrated by this years third “State of the Plate” survey. The third annual “State of the Plate” survey of more than 1,500 congregations nationwide showed that 43 percent of churches experienced an increase in giving in 2010, up from 36 percent the previous year. But 39 percent of churches reported a decline. One of the biggest drops came in the Southeast, including Georgia. Forty-six percent of churches surveyed reported a drop in giving, How do you behave when no one will ever know whether you have been faithful or unfaithful? God will always know! You and I need to “put off” unfaithfulness and “put on” faithfulness especially in ways we think are insignificant, or as Jesus said in “very little things.” Determining the ways that we will be faithful, while thinking that we can be unfaithful in other ways, is evidence of thinking that places our knowledge and wisdom above God’s. Such thinking proves that in truth we know nothing, because the Scripture is clear that, 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 9:10 (ESV) If we “put off” unfaithfulness and “put on” faithfulness even in “very little things” we will fear the lord and be the wiser for it. Here’s to wisdom, lets strive be faithful in all things great and small!