The Little Things

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. (Luke 16:10 ESV). Roy H. Williams wrote in the Monday Morning Memo: “People frustrate me. For all their talk about being ‘goal-oriented,’ most people either aren’t willing to dream big enough or they’re not willing to start small enough. Maybe I’m being harsh, but it seems to me that most ‘goal-oriented’ people just sit around sighing wistfully, ‘If only...’” The more I thought about that, the more I began to agree with him. People can be a source of frustration! Especially when I see Christians who toss around terms like “abundant life,” “eternal life,” and “the full spiritual life.” Often they end up with little more than the same sort of life that can be found just about anywhere else. No wonder so many non-Christians ignore the Church, or laugh at the pseudo-spirituality that promotes about as many problems as it does answers. The truth from the Scriptures is far different that the empty weakness so visible in many peoples lives today. There isn’t anything we can ask or think that God can’t do. We can’t even think up impossibilities for God. Now he won’t necessarily choose to do them just because we thought them up. The point, however, is that God is limitless. Our puny efforts at accomplishing significant things for God’s kingdom are largely due to the fact that we think far too small. And, not only do we often think too small, we also are not willing to start small enough. I’ve known people who have been so disappointed because they were expected to do something small that they didn’t do anything at all. The spiritual truth that faithfulness in small things is the doorway to big opportunities in the long run. Not only that, but sometimes we are most effective in the small things. When little ideas are paired with the unwillingness to start small failure is virtually guaranteed. All the time, it’s as if God is saying, “Hey! Think up something really big and get to work on it being faithful with your small beginnings! Do this, and I’ll help you.” Old and trite as it is the truth that great oaks start as small acorns still holds meaning for us. How tragic that so many people never get an oak tree because they were never willing to start with an acorn. Instead of bemoaning the “smallness” of your life ask yourself the following questions: Am I thinking great enough? Have I relied upon the Lord for wisdom, strength and guidance? Did I begin small enough to succeed? Don’t take the short cuts that are destined to end in failure. Be faithful in the little things and He will make your grow beyond your wildest imagination!