Little Ways Pay Off in Big Dividends

After months of what seems to be "little" accomplishments, part of me longs to hear about some of God’s BIG ways – BIG wins – BIG worthwhile news – BIG discoveries like a cure for Covid. But, from so many biblical indicators – God seems to work best in the “littles”.

Just think about the “littles” that God used to make something big. Like, making the first man out of LITTLE dust. Like the LITTLE boy with the LITTLE lunch that fed over 5,000. Like the LITTLE shepherd boy, David, who slew the giant with a stone and sling and conquered the Philistine army. And, then there’s Gideon who was the "smallest" in the "least" clan who saved an entire nation. He started with an army of 24,000 and God required him to reduce it to a LITTLE army of 300. God likes LITTLE.

Saint Thérèse de Lisieux said: "Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” She was known for serving God in such beautiful, “little ways”. In this “3rd act of my play”, I find myself doing many “little things” in “little ways” to serve God. It’s a sweet way to live one day at a time and serving in the process.

One of my “little ways” is this blog each day, desiring to spread good news. I am very aware that when I point one finger out to my readers, there are four pointing back at me, so I better practice what I preach! Yesterday, LITTLE was my goal. I’m not tooting my own horn or seeking an “atta girl”! But, how can I give action words without action on my part? So, these were my "little ways". I sent words of encouragement to some friends via text messages and messenger. Went grocery shopping for my friends. And, the gal I helped a couple of weeks ago who fell on the walking path? I give her Jesus in daily text messages and, yesterday, gave her and her daughter cards that express my love and God's love to them.

Here’s my motive for today's blog. We need to take the lid off of LITTLE. Yes, God likes LITTLE. In fact, He sent His beloved Son to earth as a LITTLE baby and changed everything about life, death, eternity and giving the hope for mankind of never perishing and living with Him forever and ever if we believe in Him. Now, that’s what I call BIG! And, that little baby boy grew up and said, “All it takes is a LITTLE mustard seed of faith to move mountains.” Yes, God specializes in making BIG out of LITTLES. He told the “little children” to come to Him. He directed the disciples to get a "little" coin out of a fish's mouth to pay their taxes. Quite frankly, LITTLE is MUCH when God is in it. Yes, LITTLE is much when we follow Christ’s example. We’ll find that LITTLE ways pay off in BIG dividends. What will be your LITTLE today?

The Great Multiplier – Little is Much When God is in It

I love hearing my youngest grandson rattle off his multiplication tables. It reminds me of when I learned to multiply as a child. I have used that knowledge many times over the years. 9x9=81; 6x7=42; 8x3=24 – I just did that and I didn’t even need a calculator! LOL!

I was thinking about the example of multiplication when Jesus sent the disciples out to find food to feed the crowd of over 5,000 men, plus women and children. This story always astounds me, because here we are in this 21st century with a restaurant or a fast food franchise on almost every corner and to come up with meals to feed that many in a short measure of time would be impossible. But, then enters the GREAT MULTIPLIER. They are in the middle of nowhere and the crowd is hungry. Of course, the first thing the disciples think and say “Send them home, Lord, so they can eat!” Now if that were today, we’d at least have a power bar or a little snack to tide us over. But those folks were thinking one thing: “Jesus of Galilee is there and He can heal us, restore us, bring freedom to our hearts and souls.” Jesus’ response was “See if there is any food in the crowd, and it turned out that a Mom packed her LITTLE boy a LITTLE lunch to tide him over and that lunch was the LITTLE that Jesus needed for the crowd -- five loaves of bread and two fish.

“Bring them here to me,” Jesus said. And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children." (Matthew 14:13-21). WOW! (Food for Thought: Where did those baskets come from? Maybe the little boy carried his lunch in a basket, and Jesus even MULTIPLIED the baskets??)

Co-partnering with the disciples and that LITTLE boy, Jesus was able to feed the masses by MULTIPLYING what LITTLE they had on hand. He is the Master MULTIPLIER. Just as He multiplied the LITTLE that day for that massive crowd, today, we are the chosen partners He uses. Imagine that little boy's story the rest of his life? Jesus used ME! He takes LITTLE and makes BIG out of it. "Little is much when God is in it!"

A LITTLE shepherd boy, David, with a LITTLE sling and stone – took down a GIANT. “Little is much when God is in it.” Do you feel LITTLE today? Do you have LITTLE to give God? It doesn't matter how large or small, when we give our time, our talents and our treasure to God, He will MULTIPLY it. What if, today, we present Him with what we have? Maybe a LITTLE prayer, a LITTLE donation, a LITTLE kind word, a LITTLE love, a LITTLE comfort, a LITTLE care, a LITTLE meal, a LITTLE act of service. No matter what the LITTLE is – as God's partners, our LITTLE just might be what God uses to multiply many blessings to others. Maybe inviting someone to dinner today or giving away items we no longer need, or taking a meal to someone. It may seem little to us, but BIG to them. Yes, little becomes BIG when we accept our partnership with our Master MULTIPLIER! LITTLE is much when God is in it.