I once heard a New Age poet say that “playing small does not serve the world.”
But what does the Bible have to say about “playing small”?
Is doing the small, humble, and simple tasks in life really that inadequate?
Two Was More
I’d like for us to first look at the answer to that question in Luke 21:1-3. It says:
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
(Luke 21:1-3)
Hmmm…why did Jesus say that?
I mean, it was only two mites!
According to Blue Letter Bible, a mite back in those times was a small brass coin that was worth 1/5 of a cent.
A very small amount of money…yet, Jesus said she gave “more than they all.”
Matthew Henry’s commentary on this Bible story gives a pretty good explanation on why Jesus commended the widow for giving “her all” even though it was small:
“[Jesus] commended her liberality, and her willingness to part with what little she had for the glory of God, which proceeded from a belief of and dependence upon God’s providence to take care of her.”
-Matthew Henry, emphasis added
Seven Fed Five Thousand
I’d like for us to look at another story in the New Testament, this time in John 6 where Jesus fed the five thousand with only five loaves and two fish.
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
(John 6:9-11)
Here, with the blessing of Jesus, a little boy’s small lunch of seven food items became big enough to feed five thousand!
>>>RELATED POST: The Need To Be Small
Small Stone vs. Big Weaponry
The final Bible passage I’d like for us to look at is the famous story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
(1 Samuel 17:45-49)
Why is it that David was so confident that God would use what he had (a small stone and a sling) to defeat a giant and his huge weaponry?
Well, in the chapter before–1 Samuel 16–we are shown the answer to that question:
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
(1 Samuel 16:13, emphasis added)
Conclusion: 3 Reasons Why Small Is Big
Based on the three Bible stories we just looked at, we can easily glean from then three reasons why–from a Biblical point of view–doing what may be considered small DOES make a big difference.
1. Small Is Big When It’s Done For God’s Glory
Like what we saw with the poor widow and her two mites.
2. Small Is Big When It’s Done With God’s Blessing
Just like what we saw with the young boy and his small lunch of five bread loaves and two fish.
3. Small Is Big When It’s Done Under The Power of God’s Spirit
Like for David and his small stone & sling.
As I ponder over these Biblical keys of truth, it brings to my mind a song that I’d like to conclude this blog post with.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
(1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
Amen! Maranatha!