For The Love Of God

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

Luke 16:10

Training in the small things is where the seeds of big things can be found.

Only when the Lord has taught you to do the small, behind-the-scenes, unnoticed work with integrity and joy can he entrust you with the bigger things. The key is to learn to do the work God calls you to for love of him only.

Very early in my ministry, when I was young and untried, I was invited to speak at an event and anticipated a good attendance. When I arrived, the attendance was very low. I was exhausted and discouraged. I went to a private room to prepare, thinking that I would just give the message I had outlined and get back home as soon as I could. But the Lord spoke so clearly to my heart in that moment: You speak to these few women as if they were thousands. You give full measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over. The mark of a servant who serves me out of love is that she will be faithful in the small things as if they were large. I heard that message so clearly. It changed my attitude forever. That night I gave all I had to those women God had brought, and I saw the power of God demonstrated. Years later I was still hearing from women who were there and saw God change lives. I saw what God could do when my pride was out of his way, and nothing else would ever satisfy me again. Large crowds? I don’t care. Large power? I can’t live without it.

Embrace this promise in your life: the small things matter. In God’s eyes, small is big. Put your whole heart into whatever small opportunity for obedience meets you. It matters.

Lord, let my obedience in this small thing loom large. I offer you my faithfulness in the obscure and unnoticed moments as pure worship. When no one else sees, there’s nothing in it for me except your pleasure.

I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifice to all ecstasies. To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul.

Therese De Lisieux(1873–1897), French nun and writer