The Value of Small

by Tom Norvell
Is it possible that we have misunderstood, or ignored, the value of small? Jesus saw something in smallness that we may overlook. Consider these statements: "'When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'" (Matthew !:"#$%& 'I(). "They also will answer, ' ord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "!e will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me"' "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life" (Matthew !:%%$%*). #esus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him" Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me$ and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me" %or he who is least among you all & he is the greatest" (+uke #:%,$%#). "'gain, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my %ather in heaven" %or where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew -.:-#$ &). Jesus saw the value of small. /e tend to fo0us on big. 1ig 0ars. 1ig houses. 1ig 0hur0hes. 1ig budgets. 1ig signs. 1ig events. 1ig bank a00ounts. 1ig pro2e0ts. 1ig attendan0e. 1ig numbers. 1ig buildings. 3rom the outside looking in, would it appear that we believe that big e4uals better?

Jesus did not seem to be implying that big is ne0essarily bad. 5e also en0ouraged us to Pay attention to have enough faith to do big things. 5e the small stuff. emphasi6ed having a faith that will move mountains, faith to walk on water, and that the dis0iple7s faith would enable them to do even greater things than they had seen 5im do. 5owever, we must not forget that those big things begin with something small: faith the si6e of a mustard seed, taking one step outside of the boat, serving one another, and washing feet. Jesus pointed to 0hildren as our e8ample of what 9the kingdom is like.9 5e spoke of being the least in the kingdom. 5e reminds of the importan0e of simply offering someone a 0up of water. :erhaps we should 0onsider our plans and reevaluate our approa0h to life and to ministry. /e would do well not to allow ourselves to be so enamored by the big that we miss the value of the small. It may very well be that the greatest impa0t you will have this week in the life of another human being will 0ome from doing something small. ;ne 0onversation. < word of gratitude. < kind 0omment. < one$on$one 0onversation. < moment of listening. < small group study. =wo or three gathered to pray. < single thoughtful a0t. < good appli0ation of the >0ripture. < phone 0all. < te8t message. <n email. < gentle tou0h. < note of en0ouragement. < small gift. <n hour of your time. Just this week, pay attention to small. +et ?od turn it into something big ... but only if 5e wants it to be big.