The little things are only little in size, not in importance!

Probing Proverbs 12:10 The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.

I turned 59 today, and as I prayed I thought about my almost 6 decades of life. God has been so kind and gracious to my family. What has amazed me is that as I get older I see the importance of the “little” things of life. Many times, it is how we deal with the little things that shows us our true character. When we think of what God thinks about, we usually believe He only considers and focuses on the Big things of life. He would never concern Himself with small issues like birds, insects, and vegetation. Yet, Scriptures teach the exact opposite of that.

God not only loves and enjoys all His creation; He uses it as examples to us.

When trying to help us with our anxiety concerning life He uses the lilies of the field

Matthew 6:25–34 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

When warning us about being lazy he uses ants as examples.

Proverbs 6:6–9  Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up?

Encouraging us to seek after Him, He uses the deer.

Psalm 42:1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

The crown of God’s creation is man…

Psalm 8:4–8 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?  Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!  You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,  All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, ⁸ The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

…And even there God is concerned with the details:

Matthew 10:30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

God knows how many hairs we have on our head…mine is getting real easy to count!...He knows how long they are, if their bleached or not! God is involved in all things, big and small!

Interestingly - this Proverb brings out a tremendous principle about a window to our character. Too many look to only the Big  "social" sins, while ignoring the little things in life. However, the truth communicated here has been proven throughout history. Those that love God scripturally care very much for the creation God has made.

In this world we have three kinds of thinking. The first one is a perversion of our stewardship. Almost everyone I have ever met that lifts animal life and vegetation life over human life does not believe in the God of the Scriptures. It has placed mankind as the slave of the environment. Trees and animals are more important than humans! I have witnessed this mindset personally: I once saw a nature show where a mother whale was killed on the deck of a ship, the woman watching with me, saw when they opened the mother whale up, there was a baby whale inside her. The woman, who I knew to be very strong pro-choice, complained, “See they killed two whales.” I said, “No they didn’t, they killed one whale and a fetus.” She turned bright red… because she saw the stupidity of an argument that called a human baby “a fetus” yet an unborn whale IS a whale! I am not saying I did not care that two whales were killed; I just find the hypocrisy quite disturbing.

The second mindset is religiosity. Most in this mindset claim a belief in God but they show an unbiblical attitude toward God's creation. They have misinterpreted the fact that God has made man a steward of this world and to have dominion over it to mean we can use it up, not caring how we destroy it. Their attitude is to use the animals and nature of this world for their own profit, pleasure, and purpose. No concern for the future, no understanding that a stewardship is a “trust” and we will be held accountable.

The third mindset believes that our God has entrusted us to oversee the world properly. That should impact how we treat the animals and the environment. We should enjoy this world; it’s beauty, living in it in a wise way. When we build homes, bring out of the earth its wealth or harvest it’s vegetation, it should be done in a responsible way. With planning and replenishment. We should enjoy the wildlife God has made and if our conscience allows eating meats or fish, we should harvest these animals carefully, mercifully and use the entire animal.

What’s fascinating about this Proverb is how we treat God’s animals is a window into our heart. Cruelty will never be seen in one that lives close to God, for they respect His creation. When a human is cruel to an animal, domesticated or wild, it exposes a lack of honor toward God. I have met hunters that do it right and those that do it wrong, and it shows in their character! The little things are not important…they are VERY important, they show us our heart.

Meditation: Do you take care of the little things in your life…the details…or do you allow them to be left undone? How do you treat those weaker than you? Do you throw trash on the ground? What is your attitude about God’s creation? If you see an animal being abused what do you feel? Are there certain “little” sins in your life that you seem to just ignore?

Do you think God says, “Show Me the money?”

God supplies us with money so we can do useful and enjoyable things with it. He gives so much freedom to us on what we do with it. Why so many have such an unhealthy attitude about money is tragic. Either we deceive ourselves by believing that money can bring satisfaction to our life, or we live under duress and burden, thinking God is demanding something from us. God’s attitude about money is best seen in a passage we already looked at.

In Acts 5 Peter is talking to Ananias stating this:

"Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God."

There was no command from God on this man, God had given him the land and left to him what he would do with it. Even after selling it, the Lord states through Peter that the money was under his control to do what he desired to do. Sadly, Ananias believed that if it appeared he gave more, the godlier he would appear to be.

God does not think that way! Instead, He has given us some clear principles, that if we follow we will have the freedom to enjoy our money. Our goal should always be - Do what is best, not what is easiest or cheapest!

{1} First Fruits!

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty,  And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Romans 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 

God wants you, not your wallet. When we give to God it should be from the best of what we have, not leftovers.

{2} Planned & Committed

1 Cor. 16:1-3 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also.  On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. And when I arrive, whomever you may approve, I shall send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; 

Luke 14:28-33 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'  "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? "Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks terms of peace. "So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. 

When you give to God it should not be based on emotions or circumstances. That is walking by sight. We are to walk by faith, and that will lead us to pray about our wealth and plan what our gift will be.

{3} Pure Motives

Matthew 6:1-2 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. "When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 

This does not mean you can’t get tax receipts, that is a privilege God has allowed and a wise steward will include that in their planned giving. The issue here is that you never give thinking it will make you more loved by God or as more spiritual than others. Also, don’t ever give a gift to someone to make him or her indebted to you. As a Pastor I experienced this several times in my life. Sadly the reward that person got was my humble thanks, which is not much. In each case the gift had been given anonymously, and I was so humbled. The ones that had given could have enjoyed their reward from God, which is far greater than anything I could have given. Most did, and to this day I do not know who they are, but God does. A few, after I received the gift, informed me in a way that made it clear they wanted me to know that I had them to thank for it, and they got their reward right there.

When we give, we give to God, no matter who else gets it. That is how we validate our motive. I have given to folks that used the money for the wrong thing, but I never felt I had wasted the gift, because I was giving to God. They wasted the gift and will have to account for that to God.

{4} Understand the “Sow and Reap” principle.

2 Cor. 9:6-7 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. 

        

2 Cor. 8:1-2 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 

The Church in Philippi was very poor, but through prayerful faith they gave to help those in the famine, and to help the ministry of Paul. 

Philip. 4:15-17  And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.  Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account

How did the Lord use that gift for the folks in Philippi? Notice:

Philip. 4:18-19 But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.  And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Paul is letting them know, because of their generosity, God is going to supply everything they need for life! 

When we understand this principle we will never have an "It’s My Money" attitude. We also will see that when we nickel & dime God, that's what we will reap!

The interesting thing is, these principles apply to all our wealth:

Our Time – God has given all of us a wealth of time to invest our life for Him.

Our Talents – God has enabled everyone with abilities that will help us understand our purpose and destiny.

Our Treasure – God has blessed individuals with different levels of economic riches, He needs none of it. He offers us the chance to use some for our needs, other needs, His work, and our enjoyment.

Each Other – God created us to be in community, and so we need to see others as part of the wealth of our life.

Meditation: In all these areas, how are you doing? Do you enjoy your wealth and use it wisely? Do you hoard your wealth? Do you waste your wealth? God does not want to beat anybody up, He desires to lead and guide on how to use the wealth He has given you to the max! Why not take a moment and talk with Him about it.