“Do not despise small beginnings” (Zechariah 4:10). You may be familiar with this verse without knowing the back story. At the end of Israel’s 70-year captivity, Zerrubabel returned with a small group of Jews to re-build the Temple. It was harder than he expected; he got discouraged. And, people disparaged a structure that would never be as grand as Solomon's. For 12 years, the work stopped. Then the word of the Lord came to him through Zechariah to start again, saying, do not despise small beginnings, or small things.
Our generation loves BIG things—monster houses, mammoth malls, and mega churches. No one talks of doing “small things” for God. We like big, attention-grabbing projects and campaigns. But if we despise (regard as negligible or worthless) small things, we may miss the very thing God is doing around us.
The life and ministry of Jesus demonstrates the significance of small. Born in a small shed, surrounded by chickens, sheep, cows, donkeys—despised things—He would confound the wise. Hailing from the tiny town of Nazareth, with a small group of provincial men from a politically insignificant nation, Jesus changed the world, saying, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains (Matt. 17:20). Do not despise small things. That seems to be where God does some of His best work!
I am starting from scratch, it seems. All that I have is gone. I am now renting a room in the city where I grew up. I love it though.
ReplyDeleteIt's a small beginning and I don't despise it one bit! I must admit it's taken a year of grieving and a lot of prayer and tears, but oh the joy now!