It is not uncommon to find people who get so wrapped up in details that lose sight of more important goals. Similarly, it is common to find people who are only interested in taking on jobs that will earn big rewards while spurning smaller jobs.
Jesus’ ministry balanced the macroscopic with the microscopic concerns of people. Our Lord once said,
"He who is faithful in the very little things will be faithful also in much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?" (Luke 16:10-12)
Application: The Lord often determines whether or not we are ready to assume greater responsibilities by testing how well we handle details.
1. Jesus knew that a person’s faithfulness is not measured by the amount entrusted to them, but by the character of the person who uses things.
Application: Learn to teach honesty, reliability, and effectiveness through your lifestyle, words and teachings. When people see your fruit they will recognize your true character.
2. Jesus showed the depth, breadth, length and height of His love by caring about little things that were important to people. One day Jesus was met by ten lepers who shouted,
"Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." They were all healed. Yet, one came back praising God with a loud voice and threw himself at the Jesus’ feet and thanked him. Jesus asked,
"Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:11-18)
Jesus knew that people are known by their willingness to complete all of God’s expectations - big and small.
3. Jesus showed His perfect balance of the bigger and smaller ministries through His love for children. It was said, "People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said,
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Luke 18:15-17)
Jesus used children to illustrate how even the most powerful, the most educated and the most wealthy still need to humble themselves and demonstrate a total dependence, trust and openness to God’s will for their lives.
4. Jesus illustrated great truth through the addressing of little people and their problems. Zacchaeus was a little man hated by a great number of people. Zacchaeus had probably paid someone a big bribe to get his lucrative job as a tax-collector so he was hated by the Jews. When Jesus paused to look up in the sycamore tree He said,
"Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." Many people saw this and began to mutter, "Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner." But Zacchaeus was so moved by the Lord’s attention to his needs that he stood and said,
"Look Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house." (Luke 19:1-9)
Jesus showed His concern for the most unlikely people. We can learn great lessons in seemingly insignificant situations
5. Jesus expected people with little or big gifts to demonstrate productivity. Jesus once told a parable about three men who were given ten, five and one talent respectively.
The man who had received five talents brought his master ten talents. The individual who had received ten talents returned to give his master twenty talents. But the man with one talent said to the Master,
"I was afraid of you and went out and hit your talent in the ground. See, here is the one talent that belongs to you." Jesus said,
"You wicked, lazy servant? So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who had ten talents." (Matt.25:14-30)
No one has any suitable excuse for not multiplying what God hasgiven them.
6. Jesus used an attempt by the government officials to ensnare Him with neglect to small details for God’s greater purposes. One day the tax-collectors came to Peter and asked,
"Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?" Yes, He does, he replied. Jesus said to Peter, "Even though the sons of the king are exempt from paying taxes, so as not to offend the rulers, go to the lake and throw out your line and the first fish you catch will have a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."(Matt.17:24-27)
Application: Try to fulfill all righteousness. As far as it is possible be at peace with all men.
7. Jesus showed forgiveness for big offenses and little offenses. He said,
"The Master cancels all of our debts to Him and we must also forgive others iniquities - whether they be great or small. (Matt. 18:21-35)
