small matters

We live in a culture where "big" seems to matter the most. People want big important jobs. People love living in neighborhoods with big houses. We love the big city with lots of buzz. We love to talk about our big goals and big plans. If you are in ministry like me people talk about big churches and try to imitate them at all cost. Big is a big deal and most of us spend our lives chasing after the idea that we are a success when and if we get that big promotion, big paycheck, or gain big influence. Nothing wrong with big but I think we often forget that in the Kingdom of God big does not get the same attention by Jesus as he gives things, people, and place that others in the world would consider small and of less importance. Jesus understands us better than we think He does. Jesus knew that how we handled small responsibility would be a indicator of how we would balance great responsibility. Jesus said it like this...

Matthew 25:29 (NLT)
29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

Matthew 18:4 (NLT)
4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

I could list time after time where Jesus gave attention to people who were considered small and unimportant. Jesus even called us to use what we have been given so that we can be trusted with more later. Truth is that in life if we want big influence, big leadership, or big responsibility we have to learn to be responsible in the small. For most of us that means being fully present and fully focused on where God has us now. Serving when no one is looking. Taking care of the small things that are hidden from plain view. Being faithful to lead the people God has called us to lead and not wishing God would give us a new...bigger...better...place to serve. When we learn to manage thins we consider small then we just might be ready for a bigger challenge. Never forget, small matters!