Faithful in the Small Things (Even at the Car Wash)

I went to the car wash today. My car was in desperate need of a good cleaning—inside and out. With temps finally warming up, I knew I wouldn’t be the only one with that idea, so I waited. And while I sat there in my dirty car, I started looking around.

Every vehicle in front of me looked clean.

The Bronco in front of me caught my eye. It had sprinkles of water on the back window. Was this his second time through the car wash? Meanwhile, I’m sitting there in my car that’s weeks overdue, feeling slightly judged…by those clean vehicles in line.

Finally, it was my turn. I rolled in, listened to the spray of water, and slowly made my way through the dryer. As I pulled out, I saw the Bronco again—but this time it looked different. What I hadn’t noticed before were the rust spots, the patches of missing paint on the hood, the wear and tear that showed years of use. Then I saw the driver—an older gentleman—carefully wiping down the remaining water drops. I have to admit, with the way he took care of that vehicle, it sparkled.

Here he was, taking time to clean with meticulous detail something old, worn, and imperfect, while I was barely keeping up with my newer vehicle. It made me think of this:

Now it is required that

those who have been given

a trust must prove faithful.

— 1 Corinthians 4:2

That man didn’t wait to have a flawless vehicle to take care of it. He was a good steward of what he had—rust spots and all.

That was convicting. I can be quick to take things for granted, assuming there will always be more time, more chances, another day to take care of what’s been entrusted to me. But being faithful isn’t about having things—it’s about what we do with them.

Faithfulness shows up in how we take care of our homes, our bodies, our people, and the callings we’ve been given. It’s choosing to be faithful now instead of letting things slide while we wait for the “right time.” It’s showing up, paying attention, and taking care of what we already have, even in the small, unnoticed ways.

That Bronco may not have been perfect, but it revealed something better than a perfect vehicle. It was cared for by someone who was faithful.

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I’d love to hear from you

What is something God has entrusted to you that deserves a little more care this week?

Want the full story?

For a few extra details about my visit to the carwash, you can also listen to this week’s podcast episode.

About Make Monday Matter

Make Monday Matter is my weekly devotional where I share reflections on faith, running, and the small ways God shows up in everyday life.