I was in a weekly prayer meeting with other ministry leaders when this phrase came to my mind. We were praying for our city and asking God for creative ways to make a difference. The phrase was “little is much when God is in it.” 

I immediately thought of several scriptures but did not remember that this was actually part of the chorus for a well-known song by that name. When I googled it and the history of the song came up, I was amazed. Take the time to look it up and you will be blessed. Just one example from the impact of the couple that wrote the song that changed the course of history for George Beverly Shea, one of the great gospel singers, who almost gave up singing until he was encouraged by this couple. They are not well known but their encouragement to him, not to quit, has blessed probably millions of souls over the long singing career that he had.

Let me quote a few lines from the song: “Does the place you’re called to labor seem so small and little known? It is great if God is in it, and He’ll not forget His own. Little is much when God is in it. Labor not for wealth or fame; There’s a crown, and you can win it, if you go in Jesus’ name. When the conflict here is ended and our race on earth is run, He will say, if we are faithful, “Welcome home, My child — well done!””

Jesus was sitting close to the temple treasury one day while people were bringing their offerings. His heart was most touched and blessed by the widow who gave her last two mites with a heart of total devotion. Others who gave and had much more to give, were not necessarily giving sacrificially or even with a right heart (to be seen by others?) Her name is unknown to us, but she is mentioned and honored in the scripture which has blessed many millions of people. 

The same is true for the little child who made their lunch available to Jesus, who took it, blessed it and multiplied it to feed a lot of hungry people. Other examples come to mind like Gideon, who called himself the least person in a family that was considered “least” in that tribe. He had to reduce his army down to impossible odds, so that it would be obvious that it was “not by might, not by power, but by God’s Spirit” that that battle was won. Jesus took 12 ordinary men — fishermen, a tax collector, even a thief who betrayed him and was later replaced, to change the course of history. Just 40 days after His death over 3,000 were saved on the day of Pentecost and the numbers continue to multiply to this day. Millions have professed faith in Jesus Christ as a result of hearing the Good News through the lips of another.

Sometimes we are impressed (or intimidated) by those who are well recognized or who have done significant things with their lives. Some years ago, the Lord began to deal with me along the lines of not comparing myself with others. He showed me that when I met others who were accomplished, well known or wealthy, I would compare myself to them and be insecure in whom He had called me to be. On the other hand, when I would meet those who were very needy in one way or another, I would think of myself as superior to them. He was not pleased with either of these attitudes. He told me that He had created me uniquely to be His and to stop comparing myself to anyone else. As His daughter, He had specific things for me to do and I didn’t need to do it just like anyone else.

Faithfulness is one of God’s character traits. He also highly commends His created family to be just like Him. Remember the different servants who were given a few talents to steward while their master was gone? Two of them were praised for using these resources to benefit their master and he said to them “well done, good and faithful servant.” To the one who did not understand the heart of his master and hid his talent, the master rebuked him. I certainly do not want to be like that servant and make excuses for not using the talent He gave to me.

We are called “the body of Christ” and we are made up of many different members with different functions, gifts and abilities. If we were all working together, doing what the Lord had uniquely designed each of us to do, this city we live in would be a model to the rest of the world. Needs would be met, the city would become a safe place to live because vices that now control people to do things they shouldn’t would begin to be replaced with responsible citizens. Families would stay intact and work through their differences. Education and skills training would be available to all who are able to work. We would become our brother’s keeper and be aware of “the least of these” — those unable to take care of themselves. Sounds like a “dream world” or “heaven on earth”? I think that is what Jesus meant when he taught us to pray “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is (already) in heaven.”

Be faithful. Use the talents He has given you. Brighten the world around you and light the darkened path for someone still walking in that darkness. You never know if the one you stopped to help might impact the world around him in ways that will bless and benefit mankind.