He who is faithful in little things will also be faithful in big things. This is a spiritual truth that applies throughout our life and relationships as well. Before someone will trust us with the weighty matters of their heart they must first see that we will also care for the little things that matter to them.
This dynamic plays out in friendship and may explain why many of our friendships never grow beyond casual acquaintances. Perhaps a friend once tested the waters by sharing something personal and we, unsure how to respond, redirected the conversation to safer ground: work, sports, weather, or the like.
In that small moment, we signaled that this space was not safe for depth. And so, understandably, he didn’t go further. He learned we weren’t ready to carry more. And if his life is shaken by some major event later, we might lament his silence or wish he had been more open with us. But this stage was already set by our degree of faithfulness in the small things that mattered to him all along the way.
This principle holds true in marriage as well. For instance, we might wonder why our wife seems to trust the advice of her family or friends more than ours. But perhaps we’ve failed to show consistent care for the smaller things that matter to her.
Why should she trust us with the deep matters of her heart when we show little interest in the everyday moments that shape her world—how a conversation with a friend unsettled her, how a brief interaction with the kids made her feel, or what she’s thinking about wearing to an upcoming event? We must first care for the daily matters to be welcomed into the deeper waters of her soul.
In the end, whatever it looks like, be there for the big things. But remember you must care for the little things first.
