In my last two posts I pointed out that important blessings are often hidden in things so small that we are led to believe nothing important can be found in them. So we walk away inadvertently—ignorant of our losses—in search of more distinguished vessels upon which to settle our dearest expectations. Unfortunately, these misestimations seem to be on the increase and many are being hoodwinked by the prejudices they harbor under their skull, unaware of the poisonous fraudulence they are chewing on.
Our faith
How often we deplore the littleness of our faith, expecting nearly nothing from it, and feeling sorry for our spiritual inadequacy. The same is true when it comes to our neighbor’s faith. We anticipate little from it, and consequently from him, for he might seem to dwell on the brink of spiritual bankruptcy as Job in the midst of the ashes. But when the famous preacher of faith comes—perhaps an Eliphaz or a Bildad, God knows—we revive at once and dive headlong into his arms.
Could it be there is a devilish lie upholding the deception? After all, Jesus says that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed (the smallest of all seeds according to Jesus —Mark 4:31) “you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you’” (Matt. 17:20).
This verse shows clearly that Jesus doesn’t despise the potential of our faith although it may appear small to us. When He told His disciples, in Matthew 17:20, that their problem was ἀπιστία, He was obviously referring to their unbelief (as the King James puts it) not to the size of their faith. Let’s read the passage:
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief (ἀπιστία); for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:19,20).
The simile Jesus used makes clear that a little faith is of great value when invested in the right place, and can do more than most of us might expect. This is precisely the lesson we have to learn. I sincerely believe several blessings God has for us are hidden in the kernel of our small faith. So let’s not despise it but use it to its full potential.
There is an interesting passage found in Luke 17, a passage we would do well to pay attention to:
And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do’” (Luke 17:5–10).
Here the Lord is telling us we should not stay passive, pitying our small faith, but rather serve Him heartely with the portion we already have. When we will do so, we will see it grow in a way we may not have expected, just as the mustard seed (Matt. 13:32).
To despise the day of small things is an evil capable of paralyzing any sort of potential (Zechariah 4:10). It is a step towards a stagnant and fruitless Christian life. May God help us to avoid such a destructive attitude.
The very small remnant
The prophet Isaiah was one of those who discerned the value of small things. Speaking of the seed of survival he wrote:
Unless the Lord of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah” (Isaiah 1:9).
Isaiah had understood that the blessing God had for Israel was hidden in this ‘insignificant’ little group of men and women. Listen to what God had to say concerning this very small remnant: “Thus says the Lord: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it,’ so will I do for My servants’ sake, that I may not destroy them all” (Isaiah 65:8). Here God is comparing the remnant to a single cluster of grapes. Not very impressive is it? Yet He was attesting with no hesitation that there was a blessing in it.
May God help us to discern His ways, which are often eclipsed by worldly substitutes.
Small and hard to see
James is another one who had perceived that small things can be very significant. They can contain, he claims, blessings or curses, depending on the way they are handled. In his epistle he points out that the tongue is like a small rudder moving a large ship (James 3:4,5). Not only the rudder is small, it is also hidden from the observer.
What more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell about the blessing hidden in little clouds (1 King 18:44); of the little portion of honey enlightening the eye (1 Sam. 14:29); of the blessing hidden in very little goods (Luke 19:17); and there goes the list. All these and more belong to the humble. They are found in the way of those who consider the common and see gold in the dust of life.
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:33).
On my next post we will contemplate the third and last unexpected source of blessings, i.e., blessings hidden in the act of correction.
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