“Ok, so you say the current world population is 7.4 billon, and now you are telling me 3.12 billion of them are classified as unreached people who have never heard the Gospel.” “That’s correct.” “That’s overwhelming. I’m just one person. Nothing I can do will help. I don’t even know what to do about the needy people in my city.” Two quotes have been in my mind for several weeks that apply to a person/s who thinks this way. Sydney Smith wrote three centuries ago, “It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little— do what you can.” The other; “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one” (Mother Teresa). An often-told story, you probably have heard but it best illustrates this thought, is of a boy walking on a beach blanketed with starfish after a storm and he began tossing them back one-by-one. An old man came over and criticized the boy’s effort telling him there were so many he won’t make any difference. The boy bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it back in the water, and replied, “It made a difference to that one!”
Years ago, I coined a phrase ‘the more and more, bigger and better syndrome’ and see it influencing people’s mindset even more today. This mentality leads to individuals feeling inferior because they are unable to accomplish more or bigger tasks than they observe others doing. They perceive them as smarter, possessing more abilities, have greater resources equipping them to make grand and noticeable achievements. They feel insufficient, shrink in the background, and don’t even do what they can. Scripture records only a few accounts resulting in mass conversions and changes. The Bible rather focuses on changes brought by one or a small group. Note a few examples of those who took on small tasks but brought about important results. Who was the little boy who gave his lunch of five loaves and two fish? Who lowered Paul down the wall at Damascus so he could escape death? Who held the ropes that let down the lame man through a roof into the presence of Jesus? Without the movie, who would know the name Hur, who helped save Israel from the Amalek by holding up one arm of Moses? How different would Biblical history have been if they said that’s not an important ministry or fled away mumbling they were just a nobody and couldn’t make a difference? No inferior roles existed in any of these examples. No opportunity is ever unimportant when assigned by God.
All Christians should remember these three insights when servicing Christ. The task of ministry is too great for even the most talented and gifted Christian alive. This is one reason Jesus builds His Church. The church combines believers into a collection of limited people who together, can make a difference. Solomon wrote, Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecc 4:12 NIV). If you feel like a nobody, then join together with some other nobodies and take on the little tasks. Second, utilize the resources God has provided. David only had five little rocks to kill a giant. A widow had just a handful of meal and a little oil to feed Elijah. Samson only found a jawbone to fight a thousand warriors. A poor widow possessed only two small copper coins, which amounted to a cent, but Jesus commended her. Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury (Mar 12:43). Third, you should not serve just so others will notice and make you feel important. Any task regardless how big or how small must be for God’s glory. Nevertheless, remember Hebrew 6:10. God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it (Message Bible). Not a single person may notice, but God sees and keeps a detailed record.
When Jesus pointed out the ripe harvest to His disciple he said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Lk 10:2). Notice what he did not say—send out apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelist, specialists or those with college or graduate degrees or have many abilities and able to speak well. No, the harvest needs laborers, workers, or toilers. I laugh at the original root word for few, which literally translates puny—a plentiful harvest but puny workers.
Are you sitting in the background being a nobody because you’ve convinced yourself that you are a nobody? Do you pass up opportunities because other people are smarter, have more abilities, and resources than you? Do you allow the one to go hungry because you can’t feed the other ninety-nine? You may not have multiple gifts or abilities, but God has given every believer at least one. As each one has received a special gift (1 Pet 4:10); God has given each of you a gift (NLT). Or do you sit back because you tried but no one noticed—one did, God and He is all that counts.
Sustaining Word for the Week: You cannot do everything; but still you can do something.