A GOD-LIVED LIFE: Little Things Mean A Lot

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

          We are observing a series of sermons with a Stewardship emphasis. Stewardship, ultimately, is about our entire life. We use what God gives us to his glory and for the good of our neighbor.
          Each month, I will be sending out an email to further encourage what we pondered on the first Sunday of that month. In this way, the thoughts do not perish by that Sunday evening, but each one can give intentional consideration how he or she may put into practice what was proclaimed as a God-pleasing way to serve him.
          For the month of November, we continue to consider what it means to have A Life Lived for Others.

A LIFE LIVED FOR OTHERS

Week #4      Little things mean a lot!

            We often put too much pressure and unrealistic expectations upon ourselves when it comes to our vocations.  We get the idea that we are supposed to produce some earth-shaking, world-conquering works.  Perhaps we have believed too many movies and high school graduation speeches.  But we become very disappointed that our lives are not amazing and that our works are not met with rave reviews.

            Two questions: Who said they were supposed to?  Who said they aren’t?

            The reality is that our works are almost always little things.  Think about your routine in the home.  Meals are prepared.  Laundry is folded.  Dishes are washed.  Floors are swept.  Beds are made.  Toilets are scrubbed.  Wow!  Such glamour!  Well, no.  But these mundane things are what keep the house in order.  They are absolutely necessary, as unexciting as they are.  Little things mean a lot.

            The same is true outside the home.  You show up for work on time.  You do your best at tasks that are repetitious and appear to have no real value at all.  Our work often goes unnoticed (unless you mess up!) and unappreciated.  But is it useless?  Someone who hired you doesn’t think so.  Someone benefits from your labors, even if you don’t see it.  It may seem like every day is like running on the hamster wheel, but faithful service is never a waste of time, not in the sight of God.  Little things mean a lot.

            Occasionally, God lets us see some reward, some progress, some gratitude.  That helps us keep going.  But even if your labors seem like little, meaningless things, little things mean a lot.  St. Paul wrote, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).  Eating and drinking are not exactly head-turning works, but they are done to God’s glory.  So are all your other works.  Little things not only mean a lot, they are also the things that serve other people.  It is the little things that keep your home, your work, and your life functioning.  That seems pretty big.