FAITHFUL IN SMALL THINGS

And he said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.” (Luke 19:17)

His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faith- ful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matthew 25:21)

God has called us to be faithful in small things, which tells us that small things are relevant because they are esteemed and remembered by God. He evaluates and rewards our lives in eter- nity based on the small things we have done in this age. Know- ing this gives us strength and quiet confidence to be faithful and diligent while instilling a sense of significance in us. This has a powerful effect on our hearts, motivating us to pursue lasting impact in this age and in the age to come.

We easily become preoccupied with seeking what looks and feels significant to us while devaluing faithfulness in the small things. However, eternal impact is mainly achieved through our faithfulness in small things. Only a few people in history have an international platform like Billy Graham or a worldwide eco- nomic reputation like a Bill Gates. When we think about it we realize that God has called only a few to do large things. Of the billions of people in history, all of them are called to be faithful in small things. To some this is synonymous with insignificance or irrelevance. Nothing could be further from the truth. God promises that if we are faithful in the everyday scenarios with

little public acknowledgment, He will esteem and remember them forever. We can make a lasting impact in God’s Kingdom by being faithful in small things.

Until I was nineteen years old, my idea of impact was limited to how many thousands of lives I could touch in this life. I distinctly remember the day my paradigm changed. Since then, the Lord has been continually reworking my idea of what impact looks like in this world.

One evening after a prayer meeting, Mike Bickle asked me a ques- tion. “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” Believing I had the right answer, I told him of my plans to have a big, impacting ministry that would bring many people to the Lord. Mike responded with a surprising question. “How many people were with Jesus at the end of His earthly ministry just before He died?” He only had a few faithful disciples after almost four years of ministry, yet the Father considered Him successful.

What became clear to me is how differently God views our impact in this life. The Leader of the hosts of Heaven did not gather a large group of loyal followers on Earth. At the time of His crucifixion, even His closest friends declined to be associated with Him. Yet this same Man, scorned by the majority during His earthly ministry, will reign throughout the ages as the King of the kings and Lord of lords.

Though God designed us with a desire to make a deep and lasting impact and to live in a significant way, we must understand how God views this. Lasting impact will not come through pride and self-promo- tion. Rather, it is the result of a meek life. Jesus taught us that many who are first in honor and privilege will be last, and the last will be first (Mat- thew 19:30). While few embrace this truth right now, the day will come when we will all understand just how true it is. —Deborah Hiebert

WHY ARE WE HERE?

We play a small but significant role in a very large drama, in a great conflict with eternal consequences. We are not some foot- note to the script. God did not create the world because He was bored. He is not peering down on us as if we were a collection of

highly-functional gerbils in a cage, wondering what we’re going to do next. He is looking for people who will partner with Him to bring about His purposes on Earth, and ultimately function as the Bride of Jesus, equally-yoked and madly in love with His Son.

Viewed through the Bridal Paradigm, our contribution is much more significant than most people dare to dream. We will rule and reign alongside His Son forever. He calls us co-heirs for a reason. He wants us to have eternal impact and an eternal role in the story He is unfolding. Jesus gave instructions along this line in the final moments before He ascended to be with the Fa- ther. He made it clear that God’s plan for planet Earth includes the willing cooperation of His people. He charged us to make a lasting impact on the nations. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19).

God has big plans for people, real people like you and me. Speaking to His little band of followers who were mostly un- educated and remarkably unremarkable, He laid out their future: You will disciple nations. Jesus launched a global mission that would impact their lives, even into eternity. God is looking for people who want to make a deep and lasting impact, people who will partner with Him on a level far exceeding just working a job or pursuing personal happiness.

While some might think of the desire for lasting impact as innately self-serving, it is not. Neither is it a sign of weakness or vanity. It’s an expression of being created in the likeness of God. Historically, some people in the Church have dismissed this desire, confusing it with ungodly ambition or pride. They claim that to dedicate energy to making an impact now is to strive for self-importance or fleeting prestige. The fact is that we are very important, but only have lasting significance as we walk in obedience to God’s will for our lives. The longing to make a deep and lasting impact is partially satisfied as we engage in changing the lives of others, which in turn results in eternal rewards for our own.

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