One of the harder things we may face as Christians is being in a season where you feel like not much is happening. You may feel like you have so much more potential and bigger things to do. You may even have a vision for your life that is more impactful, more significant, more life-changing. And yet, here you are working in the mundane of your everyday tasks, questioning and wondering how it can get you closer to achieving your dreams. But let us be reminded of the importance of being faithful in the little things that we’re called for in this season. Because it is in what we see as small things that God prepares us to do big things.
What are the things that God is having you do right now? It could be being a stay-at-home parent for a while. You could be in between jobs to pay the bills while waiting for your dream career. Or you’re pursuing an education, wishing you could rush time to graduate already. Maybe you started a business but it seems like you’re barely seeing any growth. No matter what it is, are you being faithful in each daily task, no matter how small or mundane? Why is being faithful in the little things so important?
The Importance Of The Little Things
If you look at God’s creation, everything starts from being little. Whether that starts from a small seed that grows into a mighty tree to an egg that grows into a chicken. What if we decided that we will quit watering the small seed because it is too insignificant? What if we find baby chicks useless to feed because they can’t give us more eggs? So it is part of nature that God created for things to have small beginnings. Should we give up on it or should we keep watering that seed and feeding the chicks? Would we be here if our own parents or caretakers did that with us?
We had seen one of our favorite writers, John C Maxwell speak at a conference. What stuck with me was that he said the small things we did every day meant more than the big things we did some of the days. Of course, he put it a lot more eloquently than what I just paraphrased. He compared it to chopping a tree with an ax five times every single day. Even though you’re only swinging the ax five times a day, the small actions that you’re taking faithfully will eventually bring the tree down. It may not be fun, even frustrating to be in the season of swinging the ax. I honestly don’t know of anyone that enjoys waiting for God for something to happen.
But there is tremendous value in being faithful to do what we’re called to do in this season. If I ever looked back on my life, it is the hard times that shaped me to be who I am. It is the challenges that allowed me to be an overcomer. There is no strength without a trial to push us to grow. I bet you feel the same about the challenges that you’ve faced. While being in a valley seems so low and far from the view we see up, that is where God teaches and refines us.
Being Faithful In The Little Things Prepares Us For More
It amazes me that each time I spend with the word of God, the more I discover how timeless and relevant it is to whatever situation we may face. The Bible tells us exactly that being faithful in the little things allows us to be trusted with bigger things.
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. - Luke 16:10 (NIV)
This goes back to the heart of God. Jesus’s ministry has always been for the least of these. Jesus despite being the King of kings stepped down to be born in a lowly stable. He washed the feet of his disciples and died the death of a criminal. We can learn from His examples that humbling ourselves is important before any form of glory. The world is in the palm of our Father’s hands. Success, honor, and riches are His to give. But it is our heart that He’s after. He paid a price too great for it.
That may reduce us to a season where we are left with only the little things. God doesn’t allow this to be cruel or to withhold blessings from us. But it is meant to shape us and prune us. He must remove what does not bear fruit. In order for us to be able to handle bigger things that he’s called us for, we must be faithful in the small things.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. - John 15:2 (NIV)
God Entrusts Us In Different Capacities
Read: Matthew 25: 14-30
In Matthew 25, we read of the parable of the bags of gold. A master entrusted different amounts of his fortune to three of his servants. He left five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the third. After some time, the master came back and asked his servants what they did with the gold. We read that both the servants that had the five and two bags of gold doubled what was entrusted to them. This is what the master said of the two servants.
His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' - Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
Meanwhile, we read that the third servant who was entrusted with one bag did nothing except hide it in the ground. His master called him a wicked and lazy servant. What we can learn from the last servant is to not be lazy with what we’re entrusted with, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Yes, one bag of gold is less than two or five bags of gold. But God knew each of the servant’s capabilities, just as he knows of ours now. God gives us what we need for the season of life and the stage of growth that we’re in. The test is whether we’re good stewards of what we’re given.
We need to be a good steward of the time, talent, and treasures that we have been given now. We’re not to look down to the amount, thinking we’re above it. What God entrusts us with now is what we need to care for now. So that means we need to be the best parent we can be for our children, the best temporary employee to our current employer and the best student that we can be. We need to humble ourselves before God and trust that He is faithful to give us more when we’re being faithful in the little things.
Let Us Pray
Heavenly Father, thank you that you have an answer for everything I could possibly ask. I admit I question why I’m at this place doing what I’m doing when I feel like I’m capable of so much more. I can get ungrateful at times for what I have now and even resentful that my dreams seem to be so far away. Teach me to be faithful in what you’re having me do now. Continue to prune and shape me so that my heart will be prepared for what you have in store for me. And I trust that whatever it is that is coming, it will be a blessing. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
Recommendation
Knowing God starts with knowing His Word. If you don’t already own a Bible, there are many churches that give one for free. You can also download a YouVersion Bible App. Or if you’d like a physical copy, it can easily be found on amazon.