LITTLE THINGS ADD UP…. THE TEST OF LITTLE THINGS…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Two part)
A man works at a car factory… getting paid a fair wage for a fair day’s work. His job is to grease the u-joint on the drive train. He gets busy joking around with his co-workers. One car gets by him. He misses applying the grease. He knows it will fail inspection. So he puts a little grease He puts on his finger and runs ahead and puts the grease to be visible on the u-joint. The man’s work passes inspection. One day a family buys their first brand new car. Soon the drive shaft falls out of the car… NOBODY KNOWS?
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START DOING WHAT IS RIGHT. WE ARE JUST PART OF THE WHOLE…IF EACH PART OF THE BODY --- THERE WOULD BE NO LIFE.
1 Corinthians 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
The body is made up as a whole… but consist of many small organs. Organs are made up of smaller cells. Cells are made up of molecule. Molecules are made up of atoms. Each atom, each molecule, each cell, each organ shares life.
Life is accomplished when each part contributes to the whole.
THERE IS A LITTLE WIDOW THAT IS WILLING TO GIVE EVERYTHING IN OBEDIENCE… WE DON’T KNOW HER NAME BUT WE KNOW HER LITTLE --- BIG DEED. THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH MAY HAVE NOT HAD MUCH --- HER LITTLE SUSTAINED THE MINISTRY. THE HOPELESS END VS THE ENDLESS HOPE. SE WAS GETTING READY TO PREPARE HER LAST.
Elisha breaks the ice with a no cost ministry. The first test is can I have a drink of water, please?
1 Kings 17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
BY THE WAY: GOD’S SECOND CALL FROM THIS NO NAMED WIDOW AND HER SON--- WILL YOU BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE YOUR ALL -–EVEN IF IT IS LITTLE? WHEN ENOUGH IS NOT ENOUGH WILL YOU STILL GIVE?
1 Kings 17:11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
IF I CAN BUT TOUCH JESUS --- SOMEONE WAS TALKING TO A LADY AND TOLD HER ABOUT JESUS’S POWER… WHOEVER TOLD HER ABOUT JESUS MAY BE UNKNOWN TO US --- BUT THAT VESSEL STARTED A MIRACLE.
The next morning someone told her Jesus is coming to town today. The no named woman got up. Put on best dress. She looked in mirror and put her make-up on. The neighbor said: WHERE ARE YOU GOING? She said: I WILL NOT COME HOME THE SAME WAY I AM LEAVING… SHE MADE THE DECISION: I AM GOING TO TOUCH JESUS TODAY.
When she topped the hill and saw the crowd. She said: I am weak --- then she thought BUT HE IS STRONG… She pressed through the crowd: IF I MAY BUT TOUCH JESUS--- I SHALL BE MADE WHOLE.
Matthew 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
THE MASTER APPOINTS 3 PEOPLE TO ENTRUST THE TALENTS: 5-2-1. THE PEOPLE WERE SERVANTS, STEWARDS---
THEY HAD TO COMPLETE THE TASK AND READY TO GIVE ACCOUNT…ENTER INTO THE JOY.
THE FIVE MAKES FIVE.
Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
THE TWO MAKES TWO.
Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
THE ONE TALENT--- DID NOTHING. ALL THE ONE TALENT MAN DID WAS MAKE EXCUSES. WHAT HE HAS WILL BE TAKEN AWAY… HE WAS LAZY AND IDLE… MY LITTLE PART DON’T MATTER?
Matthew 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
WHY WOULD GOD’S PEOPLE DESPISE SMALL THINGS?
What am I doing with the time, talent and energy god has given to us? We must find joy in doing little things. Do I desire to be a faithful in little things? How are we preparing in the little things. What do we do? What do we refuse to do? Use God’s available resources.
Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
YOU OFTEN CAN NOT SEE THE DAMAGE UNTIL IT IS TO LATE… THE LITTLE FOXES… HOW DO LITTLE FOXES SPOIL VINES --- THEY DIG LITTLE HOLES AROUND THE ROOTS OF THE VINE. THIS LOOSENED SOIL WILL PREVENT HEALTHY ROOTS FROM GROWING…
The little foxes chew on the tender leaves and the roots. They will also eat the fruit. There are potential dangers in any relationship that can divide---
Song of Songs 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
Song of Songs 2:15 (NLT2) Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!
Do we ever stop to evaluate the little foxes? Anger? Bitterness? Hardness of heart.? Mean words said in jest? Critical, judgmental spirits, SELFISHNESS? No patience?
A LITTLE NO NAMED GIRL WAS NOW A SLAVE… GOD PERMITTED HER CAPTURE TO MOVE THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE SO NAAMAN COULD HEAR. THERE WAS A MIGHTY WARRIOR NAME NAAMAN THAT HAD A HOPELESS HEALTH PROBLEM ,
2 Kings 5:2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. 3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. 4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
NAAMAN GOES TO THE WRONG PLACE, AND ASKED THE KING TO HEAL HIM? The King can’t do anything… BUT ELISHA heard the news. The miracle healing of Naaman happened because a little slave girl shares the GOOD NEWS, there is a preacher man in Israel that serves a mighty God.
THERE WAS A VERY SICK LITTLE MAN BUT HE HAD FOUR FRIENDS…FRIENDS THAT CARED. SOMEONE HEARD JESUS IS IN TOWN OVER AT A NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE ACROSS TOWN.
The little man’s friends were sitting around talking and the subject of Jesus came up. The paralyzed man was thinking, NO, THERE IS NO WAY I CAN GET OVER THERE? One friend said: WHY DON’T WE TAKE HIM TO JESUS? A miracle is birthed. After carrying this man they found a big obstacle: THE CROWD WAS SO BIG… WE CAN’T GET IN TO JESUS? One man said I have made blisters, we are not leaving without miracle.
Luke 5:18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Luke 5:19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
THE TEST OF THE SMALL THINGS --- WILL YOU FINISH YOUR TASK? THE SMALL THINGS THAT NO ONE SEES… NO APPLAUSE… NO THANKS. STEP BACK AND GIVE THANKS
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER TOLD A STORY OF A MAN THAT WORKED IN THE COAL MINES IN EAST TENNESSEE.
The man drove a coal truck from the coal temple to the rail road loading dock. It was a short quick trip. Each time the driver drove by the house where he lived. He made a quick stop threw a very large hunk of coal off in his yard. No one would miss that coal from the tons he hauled. The Sunday school teach ask: IS THIS OK, ACCEPTABLE? Why not? It is just a little coal. Our teacher told us. In the course of a month that little piece of coal added up to 2 tons? Over a year that was 24 tons of coal taken one hunk at a time. Over 10 years that was 2,400 tons. (A ton is 2,000 pound.) No one knew?
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
ENJOY LITTLE THINGS, ONE DAY YOU WILL LOOK BACK AND SAY: THE LITTLE THINGS WERE REALLY BIG MEMORIES.
COME LET US LEARN THE VALUE OF FINISHING SMALL THINGS. THERE ARE VALUES AND POWER IN SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS OF LIVING ACCUMULATE AND WE MUST FIND JOY THE TEST, IF YOU CAN DO LITTLE THINGS RIGHT, YOU WILL NEVER DO THE BIG THINGS RIGHT.
Do you want more? Then be faithful in the little. Paul is writing the church in the book of Colossians. Paul remembers a little church member named Archippus. We know nothing about Archippus. Se do not know what his job was in the local church? Paul remembers little Archippus and sent him a message: ARCHIPPUS MAKE SURE YOU FINISH YOUR WORK FOR GOD.
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
CONCLUSIONS: Learn to enjoy little things. One day you will look back WINNIE THE POOH SAYS: SOMETIMES THE SMALLEST THINGS TAKE THE MOST ROOM IN YOUR HEART. In the little things we will find God. Be positive. Be optimistic --- little stresses can cause physical, mental and spiritual problems . ARE WE AT AN HOPELESS END? DO WE HAVE ENDLESS HOPE? We will be tested in daily life. The test of faith? The test of trials? The test of fininshing.
Philippians 4:6 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
The vast ocean is made up of little drops of water. The beautiful white beach is made of small grains of sand.
Little mistakes, texting while driving, can be deadly. Little deeds of kindness… Little mistakes, little sins, open the beer can? Alcoholic? Test you anger? What might a little smile do? Little smiles, little words of hate? Of love? Small actions
MATTER!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
