Faithful In Little Things
I am part of a photography group on Facebook. One of the photographers is always posting these incredible macro (very close up) shots of insects and spiders. It is incredible all the detail you can see of these creepy, crawly things that we often hate - or at least strongly dislike. In fact, I currently have a very beautiful spider that keeps building its web on my recycle dumpster outside. It is amazing, but oh-so-nasty at the same time. (Enough of that - now that I have lost the interest of all you non-spider lovers!)
Though I am not a bug hater, I really am not a bug lover either, unless I am on the other side of my camera. I just started thinking about bugs because the topic of this devotional is little things. Just like we each have our own very specific perception of insects and spiders, we have a perception of other little things, as well. We use the word little as a term of comparison.
As humans, we find it easy to compare ourselves to others. As we do this, the term little can come up a lot. So many people label what they do for the Lord as little or unimportant because they are not the preacher, the teacher, or in what some people consider “full-time Christian ministry.” In their eyes, the individual that is important is the one getting the credit for the work that is being done or the plan being executed. However, without their behind-the-scenes service, the work would not run as smoothly or efficiently as it does.
Paul warns us about comparing ourselves with others in 2 Corinthians 10:12: “For we dare not make ourselves of the number or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” In this comparison, those doing the comparing are not wise. It is not only those behind-the-scene blessings that can get discouraged by the comparisons, but all of us. God’s Word actually teaches us that little things are important.
We see a great example of this in the life of David. You may remember the story in I Samuel 30 when the Amalekites invaded Ziklag, capturing the families of David and his men while they were away fighting. As we talk about the importance of little things, we learn in verse 10 that two hundred men were too weary to go on with David and the rest of the soldiers to save their families. After saving the families and returning to where the weary soldiers remained on guard, verses 21-25 tell us how David felt about the task these men served that many would deem little or unimportant.
“And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them. Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart. Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. For who will hearken unto you in this matter? But as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff; they shall part alike. And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.”
These men that stayed behind were warriors. Just because they were faint, doesn’t mean they didn’t want to go. They were made to stay by the stuff. It was their wives and children who had been captured, as well. Sometimes in our inability or physical weakness, we lose sight of the specific tasks that God has for us to accomplish. Faithfulness to these tasks are just as important to God as the tasks He gives to others - those tasks that we consider to be big, important tasks. In this Bible passage, the men who compared or perceived their task as more important are referred to as wicked. It is just as wrong to perceive your little task as unimportant. The way we perceive things and the way God perceives things, are so vastly different.
Those insects and spiders most of you hate are a great example of this principle. If you know your Scripture, you can see where I am going with this. Besides all the good they do in nature, God uses the little things to teach us lessons. Proverbs 30:24-28 says:
“There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.”
J.C. Ryle, an Anglican bishop, makes these points about little things:
o Ants take thought to prepare for times to come.
o Conies have a place of safety to flee to in times of danger.
o Locusts teach us to love one another, hang together, and help one another.
o Spider don’t give up trying when things get tough.
God not only uses little things to teach us, He also sees the worth of little things. “And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.” (Lk. 21:3) God saw the truth behind the offering deemed little for its true worth and value. In Luke 16:10a, Jesus reminds us that “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” Little things teach us, but God also sees their worth and uses them.
Matthew 15: 34 is just one example of how Jesus used little things. “And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.” He turned these few loaves and little fishes into a meal for thousands. In God’s service, these little things are wonderful blessings. Many times, the people that are willing to do the little things are a big blessing to others.
We know the comparisons are wrong, but it becomes a habit. We must guard against the depression and discouragement that is caused by so many things like comparing ourselves to others. We must be faithful even in the little things. We cannot get caught in the trap of judging our faithfulness or the faithfulness of others by what we do. God judges our faithfulness by our obedience - whether we are doing what He has for us as an individual to do.
We must take action to be faithful. This involves many “little” things that others around us might consider less important. Put practical application to this. Look for the little things that need doing. These are often tasks that no one else likes to do either. Empty the trash, volunteer to be on the clean-up crew, or better yet, the dish-washing crew, pick up a mop or vacuum while everyone else is standing around talking, and tie up the loose ends. Be the last one out the door as you intentionally look for the little things that need doing.
Faithfulness to God is so important, but we often do not think about how important it is to apply this principle to those little things. As you are faithful to the little things, that habit will carry through to the larger things in life, as well.
