Good morning. Today, we are leaving for our mission trip to the Maytown Center in Floyd County Kentucky. We will leave today at 3:00, and we will be gone all week. So, with that being said, I wanted to address an issue that some people may have about what it is that we are doing.
A couple of weeks ago, I had someone say that they wished we were going someplace that needed the help more. The root of the problem was not that this person didn’t want to help people. The issue was that they thought that what we were doing was too small to really matter. So, this morning, I want us all to realize that we cannot underestimate the importance of small acts of loving service.
In Zechariah 4:10 it says, “Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.” What does that verse mean? Well that is what I want us to address this morning.
Before we do that though, allow me to begin with a word of prayer. Let’s Pray!
Occasionally we all wonder if our efforts are making a difference. It is easy to grow discouraged thinking that our acts of kindness are insignificant. Many Americans suffer from depression because they don’t get a sense of the significance from their own lives. People need to know that what they are doing counts.
As we go on this mission trip, it is easy to think that since we aren’t even leaving Kentucky, that what we are doing doesn’t matter. Maybe if we were going to a foreign country, or going to a flood stricken land, then our efforts would matter. But not in Kentucky, right?
Well, the Israelites faced a similar problem when they returned from Babylonian captivity and began to rebuild Jerusalem as they fell victim to hopelessness. The people were discouraged because their numbers were small and their efforts seemed feeble when compared with the accomplishments of their ancestors. When they started to rebuild the temple they only saw how small and insignificant their contributions would be, and so they stopped working. Paul once wrote to the Galatians in Galatians 6:9-10 and he said, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Someone once said, “God can do a lot with a little. A little is a lot with God.” And as you look at the example that Jesus set for us, we see that little is much, when God is in it. Jesus fed 5 thousand people with 5 small barley loaves and 2 small fish. You see, little becomes much when we place it in the Master’s hand. As we begin to take look at how little things done is living service can accomplish and mean a lot to the people that it is done for, I want us to look at 10 keys to remember. For those of you going on the mission trip this week, keep these 10 keys in mind as you serve in Eastern Kentucky.
1. Faith gives meaning to small acts of service:
Trusting in God means that we believe God can accomplish everything He wants through our lives no matter how insignificant it might appear in the eyes of people. Many people will not see the greater works that God has been working through their small acts of love until they get to Heaven. God is able to take the seeds of small acts of love, faith, and truth telling, and He is able to multiply them significantly. In Matthew 17:20 Jesus said, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
You see, faith helps us see how God can use small things to accomplish a great deal of good for His purposes. Don’t underestimate the power of a little act of faith when serving others. In faith, do everything as if it were the most important thing that needed to be done.
2. Faithfulness in small things leads to promotions:
In Luke 16:10 Jesus says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” You see, people who fail to be trustworthy in showing love, kindness, and service in little opportunities will not be given greater responsibilities in the future.
Whoever serves God and does good with the little time, the little talents, and the little resources that they have, that person will be entrusted with more blessings. The person who hides their talents, resources, or service abilities will never improve and grow and be given bigger opportunities. So, how can we expect God to enrich us with more if we do not serve Him with what He has already given us? One man put it best, “Use it or lose it.” By being faithful in the small things, God will entrust to you the greater things as well.
3. Great things come from small beginnings:
Again, Jesus said in Mark 4:30-31 that, “The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants.” As Christians, we need to be planting seeds of kindness, truth, and love wherever we go. We need to give people hope that their lives are getting better in the Lord.
Allow God to use your seeds to expand His kingdom. The work of grace is always small in the beginning but it becomes great in the end. The seeds of the gospel may appear to be insignificant, but one day they will bring a harvest of righteousness. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 126:6 that, “He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” In other words, great things come from small beginnings. A seed has to be planted before you can reap a harvest.
4. Do not underestimate any individual:
It is just like Jesus to take the small, seemingly insignificant and weak people of the world and use them in a mighty way. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 1:26-29 that, “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.”
You see, the Lord does not see as men see. He is a better judge than we are of what instruments will best serve His purpose. Hudson Taylor was once asked, “Why do you think God chose you to start China Inland Mission.” He replied, “God picked out somebody who was so weak that apart from Him I knew I could do nothing.” God despises the proud but gives grace to the humble of heart. Never overlook any person who might be used of God in a great way for His greater purposes. Going on this mission trip is a variety of people in age. It ranges from a 15 year old, to an individual in their mid 7’s. And each of these people, and all those that are in between are able to serve God in their own unique way.
Jesus picked out little Zacchaeus and said to him in lUke 19:9-10, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Jesus uses anyone who realizes that they need Him every moment of every day. So don’t underestimate any individual.
5. God multiplies our little donations:
In Luke 21:1-4, a woman comes and gives Jesus just a little amount as an offering. But listen to what Jesus says about that offering. Jesus said of the widow’s 2 small copper coin offering, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she has out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Never underestimate how God will multiply every gift you give for the advancement of His kingdom and righteousness around the world. God is far better able to multiply your giving than any mutual fund, certificate of deposit, or hedge fund.
As we go and work in Kentucky, it will have a lasting effect on more people than just the ones we encounter. It will affect us, the people we serve, their family and friends, and who knows how far these small acts of service will stretch.
6. Do not overlook Children r the neglected:
In Matthew 19:13-14 it says, “Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”” 85% of the people who come to Christ do so before the age of 18 72% of the people whose parents bring them to church tend to become believers.
We should not despise the little hearts, which look to us for knowledge and guidance. God knows what each child is capable of accomplishing if someone will simply invest a little love, truth, and faith in them. What part will you play in setting that Child’s feet upon the path of Christ likeness?
The same can be said of those who have been neglected. As we go to Eastern Kentucky, there are going to be children and neglected people all over. Why, because people think that the word done there doesn’t matter. But keep in mind, whether they are in Africa, New Orleans, or Easter Kentucky, they still need help, and they still need to love of Christ.
7. Do not overlook any people group:
Jesus went to one Samaritan woman in the village of Sychar and He shared the gospel. Jesus said in John 4:10 that, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” Later, that same woman was used by God to tell everyone in her village about Jesus. God continues to use that little encounter to impact the world in showing others how to share the gospel across cultures. Just because they live in Kentucky doesn’t mean that they need our help any less. So don’t overlook anyone.
8. Consider how God multiplies a little cup of cold water:
In Matthew 25:40 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” What can you accomplish with one visit, one cup of water, or one meal? You can save another, and you can save your own soul.
9. Follow the faith of people like Abraham:
Paul wrote in Romans 4:20-21, “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.”
Abraham didn’t know how much the Lord would use his faith to multiply His blessings to the nations. There are still people who live right here in our own state that need to experience the love of Christ. They need someone to come and share with them. Will you allow God to use your faith to help reach them through your small acts of service?
10. God uses the faithful few to accomplish much:
Do you remember the Old Testament story of Gideon? Gideon led the army of Israel to defeat the Midianites who had invaded Israel with an army of 135 thousand soldiers. When God called Gideon to do this He didn’t pat Gideon on the back and say, “Now Gideon you can do this. YOU must believe in yourself. YOU CAN DO THIS!” No! In fact, God commanded Gideon to reduce his army from 32 thousand, to a mere 300 men. In doing so, Gideon was forced to trust in God. He was led from self-confidence to develop God-confidence. You see, you cannot be too small for God to use, but you can be too big. God always works in a powerful way in the lives of weak people. Allow God to do that through you.
Now, as we begin to wrap things up this morning, I would encourage you to not wait until you think an act of kindness is significant before serving someone else. Nobody is able to determine if his or her actions will make a great or small impact on another.
Proverbs 21:31 says, “A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory is in the hands of the Lord.” Let God use you in great ways, but realize He is the one who gives ultimate success. If you wait until you are asked to do something great, you might never be given the opportunity to serve others and to serve God. Be faithful in little things and God will make you faithful over much. You may not think you are accomplishing a whole lot today, but be like a farmer and realize that seeds planted today will yield a harvest as God blesses.
And as you serve, no matter where you are, who you are serving, or how big it might seem, always serve others as if it were God Himself that you were serving. Because in Matthew 25:31-46 it says, “1” Let’s Pray!
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