Little Things // Further Notes

"We have promised the Lord our loyalty and lifelong obedience

'at any cost.' We are not prepared for the 'low' costs of

spiritual life, the petty sacrifices we must make daily

if we are to follow faithfully."

- Elisabeth Elliot

I wrote a post on this subject recently, and since then, the Lord has continued to impress upon my heart the importance of the small things...

...and He has not failed in giving me opportunities to live out the lesson.

I'm afraid that I have failed several of those teaching moments. I experienced an entire string of little tests this morning, and after the last one, I finally recognized that my heart was not in the right place. Each test came in the form of one of those "common little rubs of life" that Amy Carmichael speaks of. The "silly little nothings, things you are ashamed of minding one scrap. Yet they can knock a strong man [or woman] over and lay him [or her] very low."

I can certainly nod in agreement. I did when I included the quote in my first post, but now I can testify by experience.

Why, you might ask, am I writing so much about the little things? Because, as I'm slowly realizing, that's what life IS.

It's the little things that constitute the greater thing called life.  The seconds that tick by, the words that come out of our mouths, our actions - everything that combines to make a day, a month, a year, a lifetime.

The "little things" won't be going away anytime soon, so it is in our best interest to learn to deal with them properly.

"It is a very good thing to learn to take things by the right handle.

An inward grouse is a devastating thing. I expect you know this,

we all do; but it is extraordinary how the devil tries to 'get' us on

the ordinary road of life. But all is well if only we are in Him, deep

in Him, and He in us our daily strength and joy and song."

- Amy Carmichael

It's the little things that the Lord is concerned about. How we handle them reflects the overall attitude of our hearts. If we can't be faithful in the moments of life that we often deem insignificant, then we will not be ready for greater things.

British theologian Campbell Morgan viewed ministry as "the unofficial, untabulated little loving kindnesses of life" (paraphrased by Amy Carmichael). Your ministry, in other words, begins right where you are. Your ministry is to the people you interact with in your daily sphere. You don't have to go to Africa or India to "find" someone to minister to. The people you share your home with - parents, siblings, roommates. Co-workers, the barista at the coffee shop, and the cashier at the grocery store. How you respond to these people through your words, your body language, or a simple smile constitute ministry. How you demonstrate Christ to people, even in the smallest possible way is a ministry.

Do we meet the little things in life with an attitude of humility and faithfulness, willing to obey Christ in every area of our lives? Do we see everything that comes across our path as a chance to die to ourselves and say yes to the will of God? Do we realize that our response to the little things is where the Lord can teach us meekness, love, gentleness, joy, compassion, kindness, self-sacrifice, and patience? Are we letting the Holy Spirit produce these fruits in us through a moment-by-moment walk with Him, or are we holding out for a grand experience to display how we've "learned" spiritual lessons? It is little stones that build a great wall and a little spark that starts a great fire. Don't despise the little things.

"Make me faithful every hour of every day

in that which looks trivial at the moment."

- Elisabeth Elliot

The Little Things

As I wrote recently, sometimes it is the little things that make all the difference in my day. A steaming cup of tea, warm flannel blankets, sunbeams streaming through the window, and many other blessings the Lord showers on me.

There is another way I can look at “little things” – a way that is integral to my Christian life.

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”

 – Luke 6:10

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”

 – Zechariah 4:10

Christ’s condition for service is a willingness to do small things – the things that the world and our flesh often count as insignificant, unworthy, or even unnecessary. Yet, the Biblical principle is clear: if you refuse to do these seemingly unimportant things of life, you will not be entrusted with great things.

As Christians, we often have big ideas of how Christ could use us. Of doing heroic deeds that give God glory (and, if we’re honest, bring us some acclaim too). Of grand spiritual service or dramatic experiences. We get bored of everyday living and doing the same tasks over….and over….and over. We nod our heads when we read Scripture passages talking of humility, serving others, and loving others as God loves and eagerly imagine some great way we can live that out.

The simple truth is that we don’t need to wait for a great opportunity to show the world we are humble or that love covers a multitude of wrongs. We are supposed to practice these things in ordinary life.

“Everything about which we are tempted to complain may be the very instrument whereby the Potter intends to shape His clay into the image of His Son – a headache, an insult, a long line at the check-out, someone’s rudeness or failure to say thank you, misunderstanding, disappointment, interruption.”

 – Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart

Humility means giving up your preference, letting someone else go first, and all the other million opportunities Christ gives us to set self aside. Showing grace to others means not honking your horn at the person who just cut you off in traffic and forgiving the person who said something unkind about you. Little things like cleaning up after your brothers, taking care of a sick person, or doing an umpteenth load of laundry.

That is where we live out our Christianity.

At least that is what Luke 6:10 and Zechariah 4:10 seem to say.

“The best training is to learn to accept everything as it comes, as from Him whom our soul loves. 
The tests are always unexpected things, not great things that can be written up, 
but the common little rubs of life, silly little nothings, things you are ashamed of minding one scrap.”

– Amy Carmichael, Candles in the Dark

When soldiers join the army, they do not start out on the battlefield, dressed in full battle gear and engaging in an all-out offensive against the enemy. They go through grueling training first – training that begins with small things and then progresses to harder and harder lessons.

An aspiring pianist does not begin with a Liszt transcendental etude. Instead, he must start with the basic elements: learning to read notes, develop proper posture and technique, long hours of practice, and simple pieces.

As Christians, our training for service means faithfulness in the little things. No task, however demeaning or humble, should be beneath us. Christ is the paradigm of service: washing feet – the dirty, dusty feet of His disciples.

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet;

ye ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given

you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

 – John 13:14-15

Since we are each running our own race, the little things of our Christian walk will be different. It may not be literally washing someone’s feet. The principle applies to whatever little things the Lord has placed in your life. Don’t overlook them. Don’t despise them. Be faithful and do them as unto Him.

“Many of you are preparing for service. This is my word for you: Don’t say ‘It doesn’t matter’ 
about anything (except your own feelings), for everything matters. Everything is important, 
even the tiniest thing. If you do everything, whether great or small, for the sake
 of your Saviour and Lord, then you will be ready for whatever work 
He has chosen for you to do later.”

 – Amy Carmichael, Candles in the Dark

If you are longing for something else – a change in daily routine, a mate, a new job, a promotion, other ministry opportunities, more important tasks, greater responsibility, leadership – be faithful in what the Lord has given you to do today and then trust that He will open up doors in His time. He has placed you right where you need to be – where you can best learn the lessons He has for you now. If you are obeying Him, then He will, without a doubt, be faithful to guide. 

"And so he that had received five talents came and brought

five other talents, saying, 'Lord, thou deliverest unto me five talents:

 behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.' 

His lord said unto him, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant: 

thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: 

enter thou into the joy of thy lord.'"

– Matthew 25:21

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

"And being found in fashion as a man,

He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death,

even the death of the cross."

- Philippians 2:8

 

Image via Pinterest.

 

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock
 Within a weary land;

A home within the wilderness,

A rest upon the way,

From the burning of the noontide heat,

And the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus

Mine eye at times can see

The very dying form of One

Who suffered there for me;

And from my stricken heart with tears

Two wonders I confess:

The wonders of redeeming love

And my unworthiness. 

 I take, O cross, thy shadow

For my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than

The sunshine of His face;

Content to let the world go by,

To know no gain nor loss,

My sinful self my only shame,

My glory all the cross.

- Elizabeth Clephane

 

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith;

Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,

despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

- Hebrews 12:2

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

- I Corinthians 1:18

 

"But God forbid that I should glory,

save in the cross of our Lord."

- Galatians 6:14