Your Part in the Big Play
Haggai 2:20-23
It was William Shakespeare who once said All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.
What an interesting way to look at life—as a dramatic, tragic, comedy, where we all have our part to play. Who would the author of this play be? God, of course. And the star of the show is Jesus Christ. But what about your role? What is your part in the Big Play?
A long time ago a man named Zerubbabel probably wrestled with this very same question. Imagine his surprise when he receives a personal reply from God through the prophet Haggai which says this: No matter how small you are, you have an important part to play in God’s plan.
God wants this same message to penetrate our hearts tonight. He wants us to understand that no matter how small you think you are, you have an important part in the Big Play of God’s plan. Let’s listen for this message as we read Haggai 2:20-23.
I. MOST OF US FEEL SO SMALL (v. 20-21a)
One of President Theodore Roosevelt’s friends recalls how he kept his perspective... After an evening of talk, we would go out on the lawn and search the skies until we found the faint spot of light-mist beyond the lower left-hand corner of the Great Square of Pegasus. Then one or the other of us would recite: "That is the Spiral Galaxy in Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It consists of one billion suns, each larger than our sun." Then Roosevelt would grin and say: "Now I think we are small enough! Let’s go to bed."
Sometimes it’s good to keep that sense of smallness, as long as you remember that no matter how small you are in the universe, you are never insignificant to God.
I think perhaps Zerubbabel is struggling with this truth. Zerubbabel has the DNA to be a major character in the Big Play. He is a direct descendant of King David himself, an heir to the throne of Israel which also makes him heir to the promise of God. By all rights he should be a big player in the world.
But all those dreams vanish when Nebuchadnezzar swoops into Jerusalem, slaughtering people like animals, destroying the beautiful palace of Solomon, and demolishing the great Temple of Jehovah. Any heir to David’s throne was glad to survive, and probably tried to keep his ancestry as secret as possible.
Now Zerubbabel has returned to the acres of rubble that was once his homeland. He is now the Persian governor of the province of the Jews, in charge of leading them to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.
God promises to bless his people again, to restore them, but Zerubbabel looks out on these few, weak exiles he has been made governor over, and wonders. Who do I think I am? What can I do to help these people? What can God do through someone as small as me? Does what I’m doing really matter? Am I really part of something bigger—something God is working out in this world? Or am I just a nobody staying busy doing nothing that will last?
At this point God sees that His man needs some encouragement. On Dec. 17, 520 BC, after God speaks through Haggai to promise His blessing on the Israelite remnant building the Temple, God sends a personal message to Zerubbabel to encourage him to faithfully play his role in God’s plan—mo matter how small he feels.
Maybe you feel that small sometimes. In the big scheme of things, you may feel pretty small. They don’t do interviews with folks like you and me; you never see our names plastered in the headlines. Our small acts of service for the Lord don’t attract much attention. Nobody asks your advice much. Maybe nobody even pays much attention to you at all.
In one sense, feeling small is OK. It can keep us from becoming arrogant and prideful. But in another sense, we have to be careful, because even though nobody but the Lord is indispensable, none of us are so small we are unimportant. There is a big difference between being humble and feeling inferior or useless.
The Lord had a message for Zerubbabel and all of us who struggle with figuring out our part in the Big Play of God’s plan: you are never too small to make a difference. God can and does take even the smallest things and people to do great things.
A wealthy woman who was traveling overseas saw a bracelet she thought was irresistible, so she sent her husband this cable: “Have found wonderful bracelet. Price $75,000. May I buy it?” Her husband promptly wired back this response: “No, price too high.” But the cable operator omitted the comma, so the woman received the message: “No price too high.” She bought it. What a difference a little thing like a comma made.
When you feel small, don’t forget how important you are to the God of the universe.
Don’t pat yourself on the back, or seek applause from others. Don’t try to convince yourself of what a great and glorious person you are. Don’t jump on the stage of life and ham it up.
But at the same time, don’t give in to the feeling that you don’t matter. God loved you enough to send His Son to die for you. Though you and I are nothing apart from Him, with Jesus as Lord of your life, you are God’s child and God’s servant. You and I are small compared to God, or maybe even to other people. But that does not mean you are insignificant. It does not mean you don’t matter. This is especially important when the world begins to look as if it’s spinning out of control. Which is probably why Haggai reveals to Zerubbabel
II. GOD HAS BIG PLANS (v. 21b-22)
If somebody were to ask you what do you think God’s plans for the future are? How would you reply? Some of us might admit we didn’t have a clue; others might paint a pretty picture of heaven and the glorious recreation of the universe. Haggai doesn’t take this approach. He pretty much sums it up this way: God’s going to turn the whole world upside down! Look at what he says:
‘I will shake heaven and earth, The image here is of two things that seem immovable and unchangeable—heaven and earth—will be shaken like a limp rag doll. God tells Zerubbabel that in His plans everything people think is stable and secure will topple down.
I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. In those days the king of Persia was the most powerful man on earth. But there were many other kings who were vying for the same position. God tells Zerubbabel that in His plans Everybody who thinks they are in charge will be thrown off their thrones!
I will overthrow the chariots And those who ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. Chariots were the “weapons of mass destruction” of those days. Armies with chariots, horses, and swords would be considered invincible. God tells Zerubbabel that in His plans Everyone who seems invincible will be destroyed.
God reminds Zerubbabel, I have big plans for this world. I’m going to shake it all up, I’m going to turn it all upside down, I’m going to write in a great twist in the pages of history. You see yourself and your people as small and weak, and your enemies as large and powerful. But my plans are to change all of that, and My plans always come to pass.
You and I need to always remember that God has big plans for this world. Things will not always stay the same. One day, God promises that He will turn the world upside down.
Hebrews 12:26-27 26 …but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
The world is not what it ought to be. Wrong is often rewarded, while right is often ridiculed. Good people are ignored, while evil people are made celebrities. Jesus Christ is dishonored, while any and every other religion is promoted. You could say the world is upside down. But God has big plans to shake up this world, until it’s right-side up again.
God’s plans gave Zerubbabel hope; they should give you and I hope, also. This world will not stay the same forever- God will intervene, and complete His Big plans. He will shake the world, but as long as we hold on to Him by faith in Christ, we will not be shaken with it.
III. GOD HAS A BIG PART FOR YOU TO PLAY (v. 23)
What part can a small person play in God’s Big Play? Haggai offers Zerubbabel the answer to this question here.
You are my servant. The word here was used for many of God’s most famous servants, from Moses to Joshua to David. God says one of the most important roles you can have in the Big Play is to simply be His servant.
You are my signet ring. A signet ring was used by a king to set his seal (what we might call sign his name) on all important documents. It was considered a symbol of a king’s authority and power. It was one of the most precious articles he owned. He slept with this ring, and never let it out of his sight.
Zerubbabel, you are my signet ring. You bear my Name; I will show my power and authority through you. You are precious to Me; I will never let you out of My Sight.
You are my chosen one. God chose Zerubbabel for his part in the Big play. But what Zerubbabel did not know was how important his part really was. You see, Zerubbabel would insure that the line of David continue after the exile, and eventually he would be the ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ. What bigger part could anyone hope to have in the Big Play of God’s plan?
Neither you nor I can have Zerubbabel’s part in God’s Big Play. But don’t ever underestimate the part He gives you.
You can play the role of a servant to the Lord, just as Zerubbabel. You can offer everything you do to the Lord as service to Him, and know that He will accept it.
Colossians 3:23-24 23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
You can be the Lord’s signet ring, wearing His Name and showing His power and love off to everyone you meet.
If you are a Christian, you are a chosen one.
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you…
He has chosen to save you because you believe in Jesus Christ. He has chosen to use you to do His work in this world. You are special to Him, not because you love Him, but because He loves you.
God has a big part for you to play in His plan. Are you willing to play your part?
Pastor John Powell shares:
I have a sign in the mirror of my room I see it every morning in my groggy condition, when I first wake up: WHAT HAVE YOU GOT GOING TODAY, GOD? I’D LIKE TO BE A PART OF IT. THANKS FOR LOVING ME.
I have to find my place in God’s plans, rather than make my own little plans and then ask God to support them: "Come on, God, give me an A in this course. Come on, God, do this for me." Instead, I pray, "What have you got going today, God? You love this world. You loved this world into life. You created this world. We’re all yours. What’s my part in the drama? What part do you want me to play? I will play any part you say. Want me to be a success? I’ll be a success for you. Want me to be a failure? I’ll fail for you. Whatever you want."
Why not ask the Lord tonight, “What is my part in your Big Play? Whatever it is, I will do it for You, Jesus.”
