The Little Things
What we consider to be little and unimportant things may be wrought with tremendous consequences. Take something like a horseshoe nail, for instance. Certainly not much to make a fuss over, is it? But, as I heard somewhere, "For want of a nail, the horseshoe was lost; for want of a horseshoe, the horse was lost; for want of a horse, the rider was lost; for want of a rider, the message was lost; for want of a message, the battle was lost." Think of it! The battle, and possibly hundreds of lives lost, thousands of lives affected, because of one, small and seemingly insignificant horseshoe nail!
But for most of us, life is made up of little things like horseshoe nails. In fact, it is these little things that show what we are. As the saying goes, "A straw will show which way the wind blows, or the water flows". There are many little "straws" that reveal which direction we are moving spiritually. We need to watch for them. The judgment scene depicted in Matt. 25 is a good illustration of how men may discount the importance of little things in this life — such things as giving food and drink, showing hospitality, and visiting the sick. As Jesus shows, these can have a bearing on where we spend ETERNITY! "Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me. And these shall go away into eternal punishment..." (v.45,46). The man who has no time for such "little" things is a man who has no time to serve Jesus! It's just that simple. And he is no better who thinks he can hire a preacher to take care of these little things in his behalf! Those who shun personal involvement in serving others, even in small ways, do worse than neglect needs; they rob themselves of blessings, both here and in the hereafter.
Opportunities for doing these little things are almost limitless — even for the "one-talent" man. For example, we might be surprised to learn what one phone call can accomplish. As someone noted in a recent bulletin: "One phone call can: Cheer the sad; learn of a need; show your concern; lift the depressed; comfort the lonely; promote a good work; strengthen the weak; reassure the suffering; and encourage the downhearted." Besides, it serves as a tangible expression of concern for another. It makes a difference in knowing that others care. The little things do not go unnoticed by the Lord; not even the cup of cold water or the widow's mite; not even the little things in your life. How shall we escape if we neglect little things?