larshaukeland

22 Big lessons from little things

Encouragement for difficult days (22):

BIG LESSONS FROM LITTLE THINGS

“For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.”

Zechariah 4:10

 We are often too impressed with size. We often assume that something small and quiet is unimportant, whilst something big and noisy must be important. God doesn’t measure life the way we do. The big things don’t always impress Him. In fact, some of the little things in the Bible teach big lessons.

Zechariah was trying to encourage the nation as they were rebuilding the temple and having a difficult time. The budget was low, the morale even lower, and it looked like the job would never be finished. The people were discouraged because the whole project seemed so small – it just wasn’t the temple it used to be.

When God wanted to deliver His people from Egypt, He didn’t send an army – He sent a baby to a Jewish family, and years later, Moses led his people out of bondage. When the nation had sunk into spiritual and political defeat, God sent a boy named Samuel who one day led his nation back into greatness. And when God wanted to deliver mankind from sin, He sent another baby – Jesus!

God uses small things to achieve great things. Remember Moses’ rod, David’s sling, Gideon’s 300 soldiers, Rahab’s piece of red rope, not to mention five loaves and two fishes. We might think we’re insignificant in the great plan of God, but we are not. We are so important to God that Jesus died for each one of us, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

Shortly before Jesus’ death on the cross, Jesus and His disciples were having supper at the home of Simon the leper, Mary of Bethany came into the room with a jar of expensive ointment, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet as an act of worship. Some criticized her for it, but Jesus defended her. He said: “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” (Mark 14:9) This one act of worship had world wide effects!

The Christian who can’t be trusted with the small  things, can never be trusted with the big things!

When God asks “Who hath despised the day of small things?” He is not suggesting that things stay small. Churches grow, and Christians grow. Jesus wants us to bear much fruit for God (John 15:8). Faithfulness in the small things will lead to blessings in the big things.

No work is small if it is God’s work. No gift is small if it is given in faith and love. No act of service is small if it is done to the glory of  Christ. Don’t go around comparing yourself with others. Let God do the measuring and the weighing. He measures for eternity – and that is what really counts…..