Dear Husband has been waiting patiently for the Fall rains to start so he can sow grass seed on spots in our lawn where the grass was destroyed by small rodents called voles. He has already carefully filled their holes with dirt, bought the grass seed and now just waits for the rains. Normally, the rains start in early October, and it rains consistently until May. But this year we got rain when we desperately needed it to quench the wildfires in September, but have gotten it only sporadically since then. But the rains will come and when they do, the tiny seeds will germinate. Each seed will produce more than just one blade of grass, altho it may start out that way. Eventually, each seed will have produced a plant with several blades and those plants will spread and produce more plants. Small seeds produce plants much larger than themselves.
We harvest more than we sow. Small disobediences morph into big problems. Small obediences multiply into big gains.
Daily choices grow into bad habits that hinder us or good habits that advance us.
One date can start a relationship that blesses you for a lifetime or one that brings grief for a lifetime.
One puff, one drink, one pill can start a downward pull into a dark pit for decades.
One unforgiveness can drag us into such darkness that we languish. Continual forgiveness can free us to flourish.
We have the choice each day to choose God’s way or our own. Hourly, our small decisions will have big effects.
Husband read me a sobering statistic about weight gain. 100 extra calories per day, i.e. unused calories, adds up to one pound per month, twelve pounds per year. One hundred calories could be something as harmless as an apple. But those calories weren’t needed to sustain my body through this day’s activities. A measly apple could spell weight gain? Yikes. In the same way, something perfectly fine in small doses could be detrimental to me in larger doses. I like to keep in touch with friends across the country and next door via Facebook. But too many extra minutes here and there and by the end of the day I find I haven’t completed the more important things I should have. Or if I take a break when I should keep pushing – just this once- it will cost me in the long run.
“A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” Proverbs 6:10-11
Being a good steward of the small things I have to do now, will prepare me for stewarding bigger things. Being responsible with a little money, will make me capable of managing more money. Being diligent to develop my small skill will lead to greater skill. But if I float along content with the skill I have, I will surely regress because there is rarely anything that allowed to become status quo won’t slip backward. I love to learn new techniques in PhotoShop. But if I don’t use what I learn right away, it slips away. Use it more and more or lose it. Small faith exercised develops into bigger faith. Small strength used over and over increases strength.
“To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Matthew 13:12
“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ … To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” Matthew 25:23, 29
It’s the little things. Tiny seeds grow into large trees. Or weeds.
“Dishonest money dwindles away,
but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Proverbs 13:11
Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” Matthew 13:33
If, during our days, we hourly choose to do and think the good things God wants us to, God will ‘raise’ our lives like yeast raises the dough. We just choose one small, good decision at a time. So what are some of the small, good decisions we can make day by day knowing we will harvest an abundance of good things?
The decision to make Bible reading a priority
The decision to set aside time to pray
The choice to serve others when it’s easier to do my own thing
The choice to meditate on what God says instead of mulling over my hurts
The decision to be quiet instead of retorting in anger
The choice to be disciplined with my time instead of squandering minutes on worthless things
The decision to take time to gather with others for worship and learning
The choice to talk about the Lord with other believers
The decision to be quiet instead of complaining
The choice to trust God even when things are discouraging
What are some other choices in your day to day that have the potential for bigger good?
We mustn’t make light of simple, daily choices. They are the stuff our future is made of.