How You Do One Thing Is How You Do Everything

I remember hearing this phrase: “How you do one thing is how you do everything.” Essentially, it means that behaviors aren’t isolated. For example, if you’ll cheat on a test, you’ll cheat on your taxes. You can’t have bad character or bad habits in one area but expect it to be different in another.

Biblically, you see this in Luke 16:10: “Whoever can be trusted with small things can also be trusted with big things. Whoever is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in big things too.”

This happened to me recently when I was working at a coffee shop and accidentally spilled coffee. I thought I had cleaned it all up, but right when I was about to leave I noticed a small spill still hiding under my laptop. It was a busy shop, and you had to ask for napkins, so I thought to myself, “Ah, it’s not that big a deal—they’ll wipe it up after I leave.”

As soon as I walked out the door, I immediately felt convicted. I knew it wasn’t the right thing to do, even though to the average person it probably seems overly dramatic. For me, I realized God was reminding me that it’s about the principle of something—living in a way that, in all areas, glorifies Him.

This isn’t about a standard of perfection. It’s about understanding that God cares way more about the little things than we often recognize. How we work in our jobs or businesses is directly connected to how we steward every other area of our lives.

I believe this is why the biblical standards for elders in the church focus so much on unseen things:

“Anyone wanting to become an overseer desires a good work. An overseer must not give people a reason to criticize him, and he must have only one wife. He must be self-controlled, wise, respected by others, ready to welcome guests, and able to teach. He must not drink too much wine or like to fight, but rather be gentle and peaceable, not loving money. He must be a good family leader, having children who cooperate with full respect. (If someone does not know how to lead the family, how can that person take care of God’s church?)” — 1 Timothy 3:1–5

I love this passage and how it so clearly articulates the importance of making sure your house is in order before trying to lead the family of God. This applies to every area of our lives:

• Why would God trust you with your own business if you’re not a good employee?

• Why would God call you to lead if you don’t know how to follow well under your leaders?

• Why would God give you more if you can’t yet steward what’s already in front of you?

Take care of your house. Don’t get overwhelmed or slip into condemnation about what’s lacking. Let it encourage you that your desire to grow is proof of His work in you. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you and give you strategy.

Keep building—it’ll be worth it.

—KK