Free Essay

Even Small Things Are Great

In: Religion Topics

Submitted By moshe2dyan
Words 1085
Pages 5
Even Small Things Are Great

Every person longs for recognition. It is the yearning of the ego to seek love. We feel good upon receiving praise from our superior. We float with pride when we are rated on top of others. Giving honor and reward to those who have accomplished great things is a good way of valuing. Rightly done, it affirms their being created in the image of God.

On the other hand, we must be careful of the way the world gives recognition. The criterion it sets to receive award tends to discriminate and devalue those who have no superior talents and winning personalities. Small people with limited capacity and resources are in a disadvantage position. The standard for becoming great is tilted to those who are endowed with opportunity to succeed according to worldly agenda. Little people compete against the odds in a world that measures success in terms of bigness and becoming number one.

Status-seeking feeds the human nature’s quest for ego tripping. It works for show. It entertains people who are awed and dazzled by what they see. Being cheered and hailed by the adoring crowd awakens the hidden desire to feel like a god. It is a dangerous game that precedes downfall (Lk 14:11).

Jesus values the greatness of people differently. Often times, it is not what they can show off but what is hidden in the heart that Jesus recognizes. The rich who put large gifts out of their riches never impressed Jesus. The one he admired is a poor widow who could only afford “two very small copper coins” but gave everything to share. Jesus said, “all these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Lk 21:4). Small gifts are great when they are given out of love and pure heart. Those who can perform big things are not always the big shots in the eye-searching of God.

We are all tempted to equate greatness by doing big accomplishments that can be measured in numbers and can be paraded with pride. Be careful because it is the quest for becoming big and bigger that Satan’s sets the trap. Success may corrupt the heart and inflate the head. It tends to look down on little people. Ultimately, it makes one believe that he/she no longer needs God because he/she thinks that he/she is a god. Thus God always hated Israel for relying on the super powers’ vast army and numerous horses to win their battles because they will forget to rely on God.

God’s model for greatness are the little people—like a child ( Matt 18:2-5) and a servant (Lk 22:24-27 ) because they easily learn to depend on God. Their greatness is not measured by their excellent performance that the world rewards but their humble attitude of heart to serve faithfully where they are. God sees the little things they do below for the Kingdom which remain unnoticed by the people of this world.

God uses small beginnings to accomplish great things to extend the Kingdom of God . Jesus Himself spent much time ministering to little people—the widows and orphans, the outcasts and marginalized, the poor and powerless. He enjoyed small talk with the common people rather giving speeches to the rich and famous. He said, even giving a cup of cold water to a stranger is a great work in the Kingdom (Matt 25:35-36). Christ is present among the hungry, the thirsty and those in prison. Serving them, no matter how small, makes one stands tall in God’s presence.

What have you done for the Kingdom of God? Perhaps, no one even notices your hard work, doing over time, doing the routine, sleepless nights, getting sick. They are not usually measured for statistical performance in a result/output management culture. However, God sees them and before His eyes you are great!
Personal Contemplation

Read and Receive
Read the article—slowly and reflectively. What has stirred up your heart?
Spend some time to receive the message resonating in your heart.

Reflect
When no one commends you for what you’ve done, how do you feel? Why?

Response

“Lord, I confess that my desire for greatness is not as you see it but the way the world shows it. Let me die from my status-seeking self.
Empty myself of every lingering desire to cling for places of recognition even if they are my right. Instead, let me find joy in the place where I am and find pleasure even for the small things you’ve called me do to become great in your eyes!”

Personal Contemplation

Read and Receive
Read the article—slowly and reflectively. What has stirred up your heart?
Spend some time to receive the message resonating in your heart.

Reflect
When no one commends you for what you’ve done, how do you feel? Why?

Response

“Lord, I confess that my desire for greatness is not as you see it but the way the world shows it. Let me die from my status-seeking self.
Empty myself of every lingering desire to cling for places of recognition even if they are my right. Instead, let me find joy in the place where I am and find pleasure even for the small things you’ve called me do to become great in your eyes!”

Peer Conversation

* How do you feel when someone in your office is given a reward when you know you’ve done greater work than him/her?

* What philosophy or practice of ministry have you learned from the article? Share this by citing a passage that speaks to you.

* What kind of a work-culture or ethic must you cultivate among yourselves to become great in the Kingdom of God?

* What work habits will you change to become great in the Kingdom of God? Share and pray for one another?
Peer Conversation

* How do you feel when someone in your office is given a reward when you know you’ve done greater work than him/her?

* What philosophy or practice of ministry have you learned from the article? Share this by citing a passage that speaks to you.

* What kind of a work-culture or ethic must you cultivate among yourselves to become great in the Kingdom of God?

* What work habits will you change to become great in the Kingdom of God? Share and pray for one another?

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