A Little Goes a Long Way

“A little goes a long way” is a familiar saying we apply to all sorts of things—from spice to garlic, logic, flattery, perfume, jewelry, makeup, and so on. But beyond our kitchens, closets, philosophies, and compliments, every little thing we do can go a long way in God’s hands. I am learning small things make a big difference, especially when done consistently over time.

We see this concept throughout the Bible in the lives of men and women who did something big with the little they were given. Joseph was the youngest in his family and was sold into slavery. Still, because of his faithfulness to God, he eventually rose to a position of power and saved the Egyptians and Israelites from famine. Gideon was the least of his family, yet his small army defeated the much larger Midianites. David was also the youngest of his family, but with just a sling and a stone, he defeated Goliath. Esther was an orphan placed in the king’s palace who saved the Jewish people from annihilation and preserved Jesus’ bloodline. And may we not forget Jesus himself, born in a manger in the middle of tiny Bethlehem, who grew up to save the entire world. God’s greatest plan began with something small.

During Jesus’ time on earth, he demonstrated the importance of “a little.”

He valued the little things: hairs on our heads, birds in the air, and flowers in the field.

He noticed the little things: a slight touch of his garment, a tax collector perched in a tree, and a widow and her two coins.

He served in little ways: washing feet, holding children, and cooking fish.

He rewarded little deeds: the woman washing his feet with her hair, the leper who said thank you, and the woman by the well who gave him something to drink.

Nothing was too insignificant for the Savior of the world. So why do we regularly consider bigger to be better? Friend, God sees and values every little thing you do. We can affect others while standing in the check-out line, sitting on the game field sidelines, walking the dog, or talking to a colleague at work. Believe it or not, when you partner with God, he can use even the most minute things to affect eternity in ways beyond what you can imagine. People like you and me can accomplish great things in our everyday moments by offering all we are and all we have to God.

If you are longing for significance and questioning whether your contributions matter, I pray that by the time you reach the end of this devotional, you will understand how important what you do is and how significant you truly are. A significant life is simpler (and smaller) than you think.

This devotional by Rachael Adams is available at Bible.com.