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 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.
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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? Dan S. Shipley
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