When we think about faithfulness, we often think about big decisions or major life changes. But much of life consists of small choices that nobody else sees.
Do you think small daily acts of obedience matter as much as the larger ones?
In my vast experience (or is it half-vast?), routine faithfulness in small things, day after day, compounds over years, decades, and generations into serious results.
The most painful catastrophes in my walk with God happened when a yearned-for opportunity suddenly materialized â and I did not have the character to profit from that answered prayer. As a very wise mentor pointed out, we get tempted to pin our hopes on some sudden breakthrough, and bet everything on one roll of the dice. And time after time we roll snake-eyes, and that old tempter grins at us again.
âAnd when your ship finally does come in, youâll be at the airport waiting for something faster.â
Thank you, Gary North, for your life of service to God and man.
Walter Knott, founder of Knottâs Berry Farm, asked Garyâs father-in-law, R J Rushdoony, how he could best use his wealth to advance Godâs agenda. The ArmEnian Calvinist suggested that he found, and endow, one excellent Christian high school per state. Fifty centers of rigorous and faithful preparation for Christian excellence.
Mr. Knott, however, was gripped by that sense of urgency so many advocate, and blew his wealth on a sequence of âevangelize the world overnightâ schemes. After his family wrested control of his empire away from him, he ruefully admitted that Rushdoony had been right. He had no lasting legacy to show for all those âDO IT NOW!â schemes.
Do you have any idea how much wisdom, patience, and LONG-TERM thinking it takes to create a legacy? And to get your children to buy into that vision? I got a ringside seat to a vision being dismembered and discarded by the alienated children of a man who wanted to create a place of respite for harried urbanites.
Then, thereâs Jerry Falwell Jr. And Franky Schaeffer IV. etc.
May God grant us the grace to raise our children âon purpose,â and for His purposes. Thatâs the slow route to influence, and the enduring, IMHO.
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There canât be large acts of faithfulness without there first being small acts of faithfulness. As we step out in faith, we find that God is faithful and the more we step out, the more confident we become of His faithfulness in our situations. Small acts of obedience matter greatly, but they shouldnât remain small. Faith is not stagnant. We either grow in our faith or remain stuck. Stepping out in faith can be fearful, but the more we do it, that fear goes away.
David had the courage and the certainty that Goliath would fall by his hand. How is it possible that this boyâs faith was so certain while the whole army of Israel quaked in fear? It goes back to his time alone looking after the sheep. David knew that the Lord had rescued him from the paw of the lion and bear. That was a fearful event, but David saw Godâs faithfulness in it. And having seen Godâs faithfulness in killing the lion, he now knew Godâs faithfulness when it came to Goliath.
That certainty was based on the lion and bear that God delivered into his hand. This one event was a stepping stone to an even greater act of faith and obedience.
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Your question made me think right away of Luke 16:10: âIf you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you wonât be honest with greater responsibilities."
I think small acts of obedience snowball and help us be ready to have more faith and step out in more obedience.
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The Lord gave us commandments to obey. I think as long as we obey them, we are okay. I donât think life was meant to be difficult.
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I am reminded of this example:
Zerubbabel, having been born in Babylon (âZeru-Babel" = âseed or offspring of Babylonâ) during the 70 year exile, was appointed, by Cyrus, to lead the remnant back from Babylon to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Jewish temple.
Having rebuilt the altar, and established proper worship, he laid the all-important cornerstone to the new temple against great local opposition. To this point, Zerubbabel had only done âsmall thingsâ and then became discouraged by his inability to continue. He waited on the Lord during a many year interruption to the temple building project.
He must have felt the small things he has done would not count for much against the strong opposition he faced; he must have felt he lacked sufficient power to complete the task he was assigned.
God steps in and sends Zechariah a vision of the True temple of God; â..a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees beside it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left." (Zechariah 4:2-3). Armed with this vision Zechariah prophesied The Word of God to Zerubbabel to him to encourage him with these words:
"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
âNot by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,â Says the LORD of hosts.
'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of âGrace, grace to it!â â "
âThe hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.â Zechariah 4:6-10
The small things Zerubbabel had accomplished were not the end of the story, but only the beginning; his simple obediences in small things were the beginning of God showing Himself strong against any opposition. The day of small things was not to be despised, but simple obedience was the very work of God to demonstrate where true power comes from.
KP
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