If a person can be trusted with little things, then he can also be trusted with big things. (Luke 16:10)

    Several weeks ago, the National Football League (NFL) kicked off a new season. Everyone starts the season with high hopes and in a tie with everyone else for first place. Nobody has lost a game. Nearly every team dreams of playoff berths and a possible Super Bowl experiences. So on opening weekend, I watched bits of two games. In both games, the “favored team” lost. One favored team had two opportunities to put the game away early, but an improper formation called back a long pass down to the goal line and on the next possession, their field goal kicker missed a field goal by just a little bit. Two little mistakes, however, added up to be huge a huge momentum shift, and a game they dominated early became a lost cause in the second half. In the other game, a highly favored team simply needed to run out the clock. They were at home, had one of the best running backs in the NFL, and were the superior team. Except ... two little procedure penalties kept them from making a single first down. The other team then took the ball down the field and scored, winning the game in what was called the shocker of the week!

    I’m sure I lost some non-football folks in that first paragraph, but if you have stuck with me so far, thanks! This really isn’t about football; it’s about life. Even more importantly, it is about our life in Christ. Just like in those ball games, little things matter! Little things matter to God, to those around us, and even to us!

    God has made it clear that “little things” matter to him. Jesus emphasized the importance of little things in our daily interaction with others. The Spirit is at work, leading us to say and do the little things that bless others. “Little things” really do matter!

    Our Father will remember those “little careless” words we utter and hold us accountable for them. (Matthew 12:36) After all, the words that come from our mouths actually reveal the kind of heart we have. (Matthew 15:18) Foul words cannot come from a clean heart anymore than foul water can come from a clean spring. (James 3:1-12) To use our words to harm, grieves the Spirit of God within us. (Ephesians 4:29-32) Even our little words are to be chosen to bless, encourage, and build up others. (Ephesians 4:29)

God has made it clear that “little things” matter to him.

    Our Savior takes personally the “little acts of kindness” that we share with others. Jesus promised that we would not lose our reward simply because we had offered someone a glass of cool water in his name. (Mark 9:41) When we see others who are hungry and feed them; when we notice those without adequate clothing and clothe them; when we hear of people in jail and visit them; and when we find folks who are thirsty and give them something to drink; then our actions are not just a blessing to them, but also to the Lord who counts them as blessings offered to him. (Matthew 25:31-46)

    As we go about our daily routines this week, we will have all sorts of opportunities to do and say “little things.” Many of these will seem inconsequential to us. However, our personal experience reminds us that the “little things” offered to us in crucial moments of our lives became huge blessings. More than likely, the person who shared this “little thing,” had no idea what they had done for us unless we told them. But, God knows!

    “Little things,” when offered to God for use by his power and blessing, are really big things that bring huge blessings to others and to ourselves. Let’s be faithful in the “little things.”

 

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Title: "The Little Things"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: September 29, 2003