One of the greatest examples of Christian love in the twentieth century was without a doubt Mother Theresa. Born in Macedonia, to Albanian parents, she felt a call to ministry at the age of 12, and six years later joined the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary.
In 1948 Mother Teresa, in what she described as “the call within the call,” left the convent to go live among the poor in Calcutta, India. She helped found a new community called the Missionaries of Charity. When interviewed about what the mission of this new organization was, Mother Theresa astounded the interviewer by answering,
“To care for the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.”
Later in her life, after years of such incredible impact that made her name a household word, Mother Theresa revealed a significant insight when she said,
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
It’s small things
Jesus said “Anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name does it unto to me.” In saying this Jesus shows that it is not just the big things that we do which count, but also the small things. Jesus does not forget the small gestures of kindness and love, giving a cup of water, an act of acceptance, a kind word, a smile, taking time to bake someone a cake or write a card, sitting with someone who is unwell, so many little things which in themselves may not seem much, but which make a difference and which God notices.
The prophet Zechariah wrote,
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. (Zechariah 4:10)
It tends to be the big gestures that get recognized and celebrated, but God says “Do not despise the small things.” Just as a house is built from lots of small bricks, so the small things we do matter, because they build into something much bigger.
Things that we do unto the Lord are never wasted. They always make a difference. No act of kindness is too small. The gift of kindness may start as a small ripple that over time can turn into a tidal wave affecting the lives of many.
It wasn’t a small thing when…
When the boy gave the five loaves and two fish. Even though they were so small compared with the great need of the 5,000 men that had to be fed. His lunch paled in comparison to the need, but in the hands of the Lord it was blessed and was made it more than enough.
When Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with the costly oil of spikenard. It seemed like a frivolous and wasteful thing to do in the eyes of Judas Iscariot, but it was making provision for Jesus’ burial. This simple act became an example of the kind of worshipper the Lord is seeking.
When the widow trusted God to provide for her after she put all of her living into the offering. Although her gift was the smallest gift that day, the faith that it took to give it, the Lord regarded it as the biggest.
When Peter confessed, “You are the Christ, the son of the Living God.” Although is was a small statement, it gives us the answer for the most important question all of us must answer, “Who do you say Jesus is?”
It does matter!
Add a Comment