The Little Things
Photo by Filip Urban on Unsplash
As a Pastor I have been involved in a wide variety of things over the years! The best thing is introducing people to Jesus and baptising them. Conducting weddings or dedicating babies are just a delight.
Then there are more sensitive areas, such as being with people when diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, comforting people when a loved one has died, or leading funerals.
There are fun things too, such as taking school assemblies, preaching at church or guest speaking at another church!
There have also been some surprising moments, like the time I came out of the church building late at night only to discover somebody hiding in the car park… I had the shock of my life!
From time to time, I get asked to do references for people. I had to do one recently and there was a question about ‘evidence of spiritual growth’. I was able to answer that well for the individual.
It did get me thinking about what kind of things would I be looking for when it comes to ‘spiritual growth’. Whilst reflecting on this, I was reminded of this Bible verse…
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
Jesus said this when sharing one of his parables (stories) about handling money. But I think the principle has a wider application.
In other words, what you do with something small matters. When our kids were little, we would give them small tasks with some responsibility. This was to help train them for adulthood!
I think a measure of spiritual growth can be seen when people are faithful and diligent in the small things. These are the kind of people who can be trusted with bigger and more responsibility.
I have had the joy of seeing people grow because they have taken care of the small things. Because of that diligence and faithfulness, I have been able to trust them with more.
I think this is one of God’s great principles that works in the ‘whole of life’. Let me encourage you to not despise the small things that come along in life. Rather, seek to do them well, as I believe, it will lead to greater things…
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader