Christian news often focuses on megachurches and crusades,
and there is often talk about desiring a great revival in our land. There’s
nothing wrong with those things in themselves. However, I wonder if we’re
overlooking the small things that God likes to use. Jesus used a boy’s small
lunch (John 6:9) and He commended the widow’s small offering (Mark 12:42). He
reminded His disciples that the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard
seed or a little leaven in the dough (Matthew 13:31-33).
Half of churches have 100 attendees or fewer, and 90% have
350 or fewer (source).
Most of the work of preaching, teaching, and discipling happens on the small
scale—in small churches, small groups, and one-on-one—and yet churches and
denominations often seem obsessed with “bigger and better.”
Moses said “May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech
distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers
upon the herb” (Deuteronomy 32:2 ESV). Charles Spurgeon commented on this
verse:
“Let us try to be a little useful
if we cannot reach to great things. The small rain is a great blessing. Let us
try to be useful in little things. Let us look after tender herbs; let us try
to bring boys and girls to Jesus” (Following Christ, ch. 15).
God has let history unfold at His own pace, and we’re more
than two millennia past the birth of Christ. “But do not overlook this one
fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a
thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some
count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish”
(2 Peter 3:8-9). It may seem slow to us, but God is not in a hurry to bring
everything to completion. He may bring a great flood of conversions or it may
be a slow trickle. It is not up to us to try to orchestrate a grand finale. He
simply calls us to be faithful to the task at hand.
We sometimes start to think of ourselves too highly. “I must share the gospel with one new person
every week… My church must have 10% higher attendance by the end of this year…
We must plant five new churches in this city in five years…” Some of us may
be trying to function as if we have five talents when God has only given us one
(Matthew 25:14-30). And some of us may be trying to function in roles that we
just aren’t gifted for (Romans 12:3-8). None of us alone can do everything, and
that’s why God placed us within the Body. If each member does their part, God
will provide the harvest in His own good time.
“Well done, good and
faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over
much” (Matthew 25:21b).
© 2019 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are
copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect
the views of my church or employer.
