Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10). According to our Savior, little things can make a significant impact on the big picture. Your riches, prosperity and wealth may hinge on that little gift you are currently underestimating. Many business tycoons started so small, many big malls started small, many industries started as shops; many writers struggled to write ABCD, many mathematicians had untold battles with many formulas in mathematics. The secret to stardom is persistence; you may call it, perseverance, determination, doggedness, pushiness, diligence or steadiness. If you persist you will manifest! You shall grow and glow!
No gift is too small or insignificant for divine recognition. The Lord’s approval of the widow who gave last two coins in Mark 12:41 shows that God is interested in everyone’s gift. Mark Gospel calls the two coins mites which are smaller in value than a penny. The small coins have formed an expression today in English language because small things mean a lot in the eyes of God. For that very act you and I can easily say “the widow’s mite”. This is just the literal benefits; am very sure the spiritual significance outweighs more than that.
Talking about little gifts; the little boy’s lunch in John 6:9 fed thousands. You can’t fast-predict the extent you little gift can go. The boy was small and so was his lunch. We can safely assume the little boy was from a poor family based on the meager lunch he had that consisted of only two small pickled herrings and five small barley loaves. Your family background should not make you to underestimate your gifts. There are writers whose parents were not learned. There are Medical doctors who had no parents; there are music stars that never had the enabling training and environment. Your destiny is in your hands! This little boy brought it forth, if you don’t express what you are capable of doing because you think it will not be appreciated you will end up in regrets. Bring forth your skill and Jesus will spring it forth! Have you not read that the small coin in the mouth of a fish was used to pay tax in Matthew 17:27. Better go and open your mouth, if you can sing, open your mouth, if may just be an orator, open your mouth you may be the next AY the world is waiting for, open your mouth you may be the best MC. If you don’t open your mouth the world shall not hear you.
Your gift could just be as small as Mustard Seed. What is Mustard seed? Matthew 13:31–32, explains, “The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.” As you probably know, the mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds planted in the Middle East. But nurtured in the right conditions, it can grow into something else even providing a shelter for birds. It will amaze you if you know the future capacity of your small gift. With a little jawbone, Samson slew an army. David took a little stone and brought down a giant. With just your small gift great things can be accomplished.
Do not dismiss the small things in your life. Small things will develop into a harvest of blessings when you allow God to use them for His glory. According to Luke 16:10,“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much”. Therefore, the little things you have are there to prepare you for bigger things. The key is to trust God while operating in the realm of that small gift. Do something today!