In 536 B.C., Cyrus, king of Persia, issued a proclamation that profoundly affected the Jewish people. This proclamation allowed the Jews, who had been taken captive to Babylon earlier by Nebuchadnezzar, to return to Jerusalem. Over 40,000 people responded. When they reached their destination, one of the first things they determined to do was rebuild the Temple.
When the foundation for the Temple was laid, many wept with a loud voice. They perceived this temple to be insignificant, compared to the one Solomon built earlier (Ezra 3:12). All the things they would do in the coming years would be viewed as small and unimportant. To this attitude God responded, “For who has despised the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10). When the work is for God, nothing is inconsequential; everything has a place in His plan.
Our lives are spent mainly in tending to small duties. We have a normal routine we follow most days. Few of us will be called by the governor or the president, or do that which society would consider great. Even so, such a life is nothing to despise! A great life consists in doing small things well every day. The importance of prayer, phone calls, cards, visits, meals, etc. is significant when we do them for the Lord. How many lives have you touched, sick strengthened and weak cheered through prayer? How many people have you encouraged through a visit, a card or a call? How many have been blessed by a meal you offered? How many have the hope of salvation because of your influence, persistence and love in reaching out to them with the Gospel?
Jesus said, “And whoever gives to one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). A body of the Lord’s people, doing what they can in service to Him, will find together they can be of great value to the Master. It is through Him that “…all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase which is from God” (Colossians 2:19).
Do not underestimate the importance of what you do for the Lord, great or small! Nothing is insignificant when done for the glory of God. We can all resolve to put God first in all we do, to make sure what we do is done with excellence, to please God. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Despise not the day of small things.
