MAKING BIG THINGS OUR OF SMALL THINGS

Let’s look at three perspectives related to “making big things out of small things.” Quickly, we will look at it from the view of a second grader, the view of a slacker, and then the view of the Savior.

A second grader had completed a Q&A administered by his teacher. One of the questions was, “When you stub your toe, is that a big thing or a small thing?” While the faces of many adults grimace in pain as if the world is ending and simultaneously release frightening sounds out of their mouths when they unexpectedly stub their toe on a piece of furniture, those grown-ups would say that stubbing your toe is a big thing. Not so for the second grader. His response was that it was a small thing and his justifying comment was a teaching moment, “Too many times people make big things out of little things.” Now notice, he did not say “all the time,” but rather “too many times.” I suspect he was leaving room for the times such as when we are required to pay attention to little details, complete a small assignment, or use our little resources to take small means and bring about a big difference or great results. Great insight, right?

The slacker’s view of things is similar, but his perspective reveals why he is labeled as a slacker. From his perspective, one flaw in the performance of his duties at work is no big deal. However, unlike the conclusion reached by the second grader, the slacker’s opinion is a little messed-up, thinking one small mistake should not make a big difference and that it will most likely go unnoticed. The slacker is the type of person that thinks it is a small thing not to give 100% in trying to meet your employer’s expectations when it comes to performing assigned tasks. He thinks the same thing about meeting God’s expectations for us too. The slacker is the type of person who wrongly thinks one small lie will not lead to other lies and end up with a heap of untruths that undo relationships, undeniably communicates a character trait that reveals a lack integrity, and undermine a person being considered trustworthy. The slacker overlooks the times that the second grader noticed; times that he cited that show that there are times when little things can lead to big things, negative things.

Now, let’s look at the view of the Savior by merely quoting His words. Jesus had this to say in one of His parables: “If you’re honest in small things, you’ll be honest in big things; if you’re a crook in small things, you’ll be a crook in big things. If you’re not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store? No worker can serve two bosses: He’ll either hate the first and love the second or adore the first and despise the second. You can’t serve both God and the Bank.”

Now, for this meditation to be profitable, think about all three of these perspectives and arrive at an honest description of how you look at small things. Then, to be sure that you end on a positive note, shift your thinking to what one Person, Jesus the Christ, did for us on a hill far away, called Golgotha. I’m sure that you will agree that this one act falls under the category or “Small means, but great results.” Be blessed!

^“And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:16-17 NKJV)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King