We want to do big things. We want recognition. We would desire nothing more than to get our picture on the front page of the top newspapers as some epic hero. We want to be able to say that through us, some 20 million people were affected and led to the Lord. We want to be able to say that choices we made changed the way of life for scores of people. We want our name to roll down through history as a person who rocked the world to the core. We envy those who seem to have the world by the tail and have it all together. That's great...or is it? There is one key problem with our desires. Most of the desires are not bad in and of themselves, but they still all point to us. And that is exactly where the problem lies. WE want to be important. We forget about the true meaning of life; the glorification and exaltation of God and God alone. What about letting God do the big stuff, and being content to be perfectly faithful in the little things? We want to change the world? How about making life wonderful for those who we have influence over. You want to rescue a country from poverty and illness? Why does your elderly neighbor pine away in utter solitude? Sometimes I think that we confuse God's desires with our own. God has given each of us gifts and abilities. I am confident of that. If we are honest with ourselves, we all feel a bit unworthy and insecure but God loves us AND our weakness. In it, HIS strength shines through. Nevertheless, I still maintain that most of us have things RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES that we could be doing for God instead of wishing that we would be used for a bigger purpose. I'm sure Jesus felt like it was a waste of his short life to be building chairs in a carpenter's shop. He remained faithful until God called Him to other things. Are we better than Jesus?
Not at all. So, you want to be a world-changer? Don't wait for the opportunity to arise, go out and be faithful in the little things, change the things you CAN change, and then see what God will do with your life. Remember, faithfulness is enduring.... It may be 30 years of faithfulness before God really "shows" you what a blessing you really are in people's lives. It may never be shown to you. But God blesses the faithful. Job never knew that his story would be the most known and quoted story of suffering throughout the history of the ages. We would probably go through twice as much if we knew our lives would bless even half as many people. But all that is for eternity to reveal. For now, just remember: "When opportunity comes, it is too late to prepare." Why not invest time in scripture memory, serving your neighbors, encouraging lonely people in your church, and being a blessing in your home. If God rewards someone giving a cup of cold water, he surely smiles upon faithfulness in the smallest things. In fact, I am convinced that the same sensitivity that God has for sin, he has for faithfulness. In other words, if you do the smallest little sin, and expect to be able to hide it from God, you are so mistaken. Nothing passes his notice. The same applies to our faithfulness. Every little bitty thing you do in Jesus name and for his sake, he remembers. He is not slack concerning his promises. Nothing is too small or too big to do for God.
Labels: ramblings
