Small Things
For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth. – Zechariah 4:10 NKJV.
May 10, 1999 was a record setting day in the life of Marshall McDougall and for collegiate baseball. McDougall slammed six consecutive homers and with them knocked in 16 runs. These were both NCAA records. Since I have never hit a homerun, I am amazed at the ability to hit even one much less six in a row. When we think of accomplishments most likely we think of something like this day in the life of Marshall McDougall. A record setting day.
In contrast the Bible tells us not to despise the day of small things. Zerubbabel had been leading the people in rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. Progress had been slow. In twenty years, the people had only seen the foundation laid and they were discouraged. There had been many days of small steps necessary for the laying of the foundation, gathering of supplies, preparing of hearts before completion of the Temple. The things the people had accomplished had been small in their eyes but important in the eyes of God. They had been small things but necessary things.
In our own lives we often become discouraged by the lack of meeting goals, the lack of spiritual growth, the backsliding, and other things as well. To God a homerun in our lives may be a day when we take time to read our Bible and pray. To God a record setting day may be when we overcome through His power a sin that has been besetting us. It may be a temporary victory. We may have held our tongue when we wanted to speak. We may have given when we wanted to keep. We may have blessed when we wanted to curse. We may have witnessed when we wanted to be by ourselves instead. We may have spent time with our children or grandchildren that we wanted to spend in some other way.
The mighty oak tree begins how? Through a tiny acorn placed in the ground. A tiny baby sometimes grows to become a Billy, or a Franklin Graham. But it wasn’t always easy being their mother or father and there were many days of seemingly small things along the way. Today may be a day to plant an acorn. It may be a day when the acorn needs to be watered.
A day well lived no matter how small it appears is not to be despised. We may not have a crowd setting on the bench cheering us on. However, there is someone watching. “The eyes of the Lord which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” When we plant the acorn or water it, the Lord knows and the angels in Heaven are cheering and rejoicing.