Bulletin Articles
The Little Things
People often seem prone to wanting big things out of life. If we are going to accomplish anything, we want it to be big, fancy, and impressive. Culturally, we tend to think in terms of big names, sports and movie stars, or heroic action. Famous people get our attention. Consequently, we might not think as much about the little things. These tend to get lost in the mix, go unnoticed, or downplayed in importance. The big things are what matter, we think, but are we missing something?
We might recall Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria and a mighty man of valor (2 Kings 5). Sadly, for him, he was a leper. After a young girl from Israel was captured, she suggested a prophet in Israel who could heal him. Naaman finally went to see Elisha, who told him to go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman was angry about this, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.” He thought the rivers from which he came were better, and he left in a rage. His servant, however, came to him and said, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” Naaman finally went to the Jordan, did what he was told, and was healed.
That mindset of Naaman is not uncommon. We look for pomp and show sometimes, some great thing to happen, and look down on the little things. What we may not realize, however, is that the little things are far more important than what we might know. It takes humility on our part to recognize this and be responsible for those little things that may not be seen as much. Consider the principles we see in some example passages:
1. The parable of the talents demonstrates that one who is faithful with a little will be faithful with more (Matt 25:14-30). Both the five talent and two talent men were commended for what they received and did. They were told, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” The one talent man, however, hid his talent and did nothing to add to it. When the master returned, the man gave the talent back, saying, “Here, you have what is yours.” His attitude was one of trying to do just enough to get by. It didn’t work, and he was rebuked: “You wicked and slothful servant!” If we are not faithful in the little things, we cannot expect to be rewarded with the bigger and greater things.
2. Luke records Jesus teaching this lesson after telling the parable of the dishonest manager: “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. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?” (Luke 16:10-12). The principle shows that the little things matter because it speaks to the issue of trust. If one cannot be trusted with the little things, why should that one be trusted with bigger things? Faithfulness should not depend on how big the prize is or how little the job is. If we are faithful at all, we will be faithful over all for which we are responsible.
We must not measure a task by how big or little it is. Rather, we must see to it that we are faithful over any task with which we have been entrusted. We need not sound trumpets before us, parade our work about to get the credit, or fret when others don’t see us acting. After all, “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matt 6:4). Our emphasis is not to do some great thing, but rather to glorify God in any way that opportunity affords.
Paying attention to the big things and ignoring the little things will turn us into hypocrites, for we will give the impression that we care when our works are seen. Yet if we care only that we are noticed, then when we are tasked with something not impressive, we may be willing to pass it by or do less than our best. Our attitude becomes, “Here you have what is yours,” and the Lord will call us wicked and lazy. Pay attention, then, to the little things and be dedicated to giving your best no matter the size of the task or the greatness of the reward. Our goal is to be faithful to whatever we have and thereby glorify God. He, then, will exalt the humble in His time and in His way.
