How much faith is required? (Joshua 14-17, Luke 17)

How much faith do you need? How do you get more? In Luke 17, the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. Just before this, Jesus has challenged them to give no offence and take no offence. He’s told them to be careful not to cause another believer to sin, he’s warned them how serious it is. And then he’s challenged them to forgive others who sin against you, but before you can forgive them, you may need to challenge them! Jesus tells us that sometimes we will need to help someone else see their sin by pointing it out. Naturally this is hard and we need to remember Jesus’ warning from elsewhere to remove the plank from our own eye before taking the speck out of our brother’s eye. But as hard as it may be, there is a place for lovingly pointing out someone else’s sin to help them to repent.

It is after this that the apostles say “increase our faith” – what a great response to hard teaching. “Lord this is hard, please help me! Help me not to cause others to sin, and help me to be able to gently point out sin and then to forgive.”

Jesus’ response teaches us that it is not about how big your faith is, but who your faith is in. A really big faith in yourself would not do you any good, but a tiny faith in a great God produces tree shifting results! Jesus says you only need faith the size of a mustard seed to shift a mulberry tree. Jesus is not interested in us throwing trees around, but He is teaching us the important thing is not how much faith you have, but who your faith is in. A small faith in a great God, a trust that He can help you is enough. You can trust him to help you when you cry to Him.