““If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”
Luke 16:10
This is a daylily.
Isn’t she lovely? She’s a showstopper for real.
But here’s the thing.
She’s only going to live for one day.
One.
Day.
Thats it, folks – that’s all she wrote. Her bud forms. It opens in the morning. By evening, her petals are already turning to mush.
By the next morning, she’s already drying up. Another day, and her beauty has already fallen to the earth, dried, wizened wisps which are only a shadow of her former glory. She’ll never be chosen for that gorgeous bouquet, or grace a corsage. Her opportunities are narrow and limited.
Why even bother?
You and I could learn a lot about being faithful with in the little things from a blossom that only lives a matter of hours.
1. Small choices add up to big changes.
Daniel and his friends chose to negotiate with their overseers in a matter of diet – they wanted to remain faithful to the regulations of their God in a foreign nation filled with temptations. Seems unimportant, right? But those small steps of faith, those small choices, added up to a way of life – later, Daniel was so trustworthy that his enemies couldn’t find a fault in him. Wow.
2. Learn to practice big skills in small contexts.
Joseph learned how to flex his administrative muscles first by organizing Potiphar’s household, then overseeing a prison before he was ready to take on governing the nation of Egypt – and his able administration saved the lives of countless people.
3. Bloom where you are, for as long as you can.
Never despise the jobs that aren’t glamorous, are behind the scenes, or don’t advance your agenda. With even the small tasks, bloom big and brave – you know that God sees and values each and every act of service, however small.
4. Don’t miss the few in your quest for the many.
Maybe today you were only supposed to touch one. Maybe that one was enough! If you wait around for a bigger soapbox, the moment will pass and you will have missed out on being a blessing.
These words of Jesus are so powerful. So encouraging. So challenging.
Do you want to make a big difference in the world?
Be a daylily.
Be faithful in the little things with me?
Father, we get so caught up in our big dreams, we may be missing the blessings of a faithful life lived well one step at a time. Open our eyes to the small opportunities before us. Help us to be diligent in practicing skills in a small scale, so that we will earn the right to bigger tasks for Your kingdom. Amen.
Growing in Grace 