His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21 ESV)

Every choice I make matters, and everything I do is an expression of my character. Working with the same diligence in all the small things is the substance that makes up integrity. There are days when I question if any of my half-efforts would be noticed. They probably wouldn’t, but deep down in my heart I know I could have done better. I actually feel embarrassed when I get applauded for a job well done because I know how much time and energy I spent on each task. Things would be completed, but the perfectionist inside of me says I could have done a little more.

To counter my negative feelings, I ask myself, “How would Jesus approach this task? How meticulous would he be with every detail to ensure everything was done correctly?” These two questions combined with the thought of people counting on me catalyzes my efforts to persevere and see things through.

I have learned there are only a few shortcuts that are almost always acceptable: those that save time on travel; those that properly reduce work inefficiencies; and those that make navigating my computer easier. In the arenas of growth and quality, shortcuts tend to cause more trouble and a lot of rework because I would have to undo the mess I created.

So in essence, all the small things add up because they become the summation of who I am as a person. Hopefully, over time, whatever I express in word and action reflects nothing else but Jesus living in me, and to that end, may he get all the credit and glory.