Make a Big Difference in the World Through These Small Things

When you read collections of stories about great people and how they did extraordinary things, you may feel discouraged. You feel it would be impossible for you to be as great as they were, make history or become a pioneer. You also cannot or have never dreamed of changing the world, for example by becoming an official, entrepreneur, expert, or pioneer of new technology. 

However, that does not mean the small things we do are of no benefit at all to others. Sometimes, what we consider small or trivial can actually make a big difference for the people around us. What are they?

God Can Use Small Things to Fulfill Great Matters

The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” Moses answered, “A staff.” – Exodus 4:2  

You may not be unfamiliar with the story of the staff of Moses that turned into a serpent and brought about the plagues (Exodus 4:1-4, 7:20, 8:5, 8:16), or Aaron's staff that budded (Numbers 17:8). Even a staff, a simple object for driving livestock and a walking aid, could be used by God to deliver the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt.

In the early days when I came to know the truth of the word of God, I lived in Surabaya, while my older sister was in Jakarta. I sent her pages and pages of letters telling her how I finally found my purpose in life. That I had been changed and understood God's plan for my life. Through those letters, my sister also began to study the word of God and decided to live according to His way.

“For I tell you truly, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain: Move from here to there, and the mountain will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20 

These small things can have a great impact on the people around you:

• sending a message or greeting card to encourage someone else
• delivering / sending lunch to a friend who has been laid off because of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
• buying a birthday cake for a sister who sincerely serves in ministry
• donating used clothes that are still fit to wear to people in need
• collecting donations for brothers and sisters who are going through hardship, and so on

The Lord Jesus also gave His example in this matter, which you can read in full here.

God Values the Small Things We Do for Others

And the King will answer them, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me. – Matthew 25:40  

In the verse above, the Lord does not speak about specific activities or about to whom we do them. “Whatever,” whether small or great, He still values. “The least” are those who are nobody, not great people, who may be looked down on or ignored by society. God values what we do for others, regardless of the scale of the giving. 

In December 2015, I was shopping at a small supermarket that offered Christmas gift packages. I was interested in buying one, but did not know to whom I would give the package. Then I remembered one of the sisters, a young single mom with her little son, who was not prominent and was often overlooked. 

I bought the package along with a greeting card. And that very night, I delivered the gift to this sister's house, which was not too far from where I lived. This sister felt honored and touched to receive it. 

After that, I went home with a heart full of joy. A small gift with a simple card had made someone feel glad. All along the way, I reflected as well. How beautiful the world would be if everyone were willing to do one small thing for the people around them. How much better a place the world would be!

God values the small things you do, such as: 

• visiting a brother / sister who is sick, encouraging and praying for them
• sharing your faith with someone who does not know God
• taking time to get to know fellow believers
• comforting a friend who is going through hardship
• helping brothers and sisters whose faith is weak
• listening to a friend who needs a friend, and so on

“In everything I have given you an example, that by working this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, for He Himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35 

Give What You Have

The woman answered, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I do not have any bread, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering two or three sticks of firewood, then I will go home and prepare it for myself and my son, and after we eat it, we will die.” – 1 Kings 17:12 

God told the prophet Elijah to go to Zarephath, where the stream had dried up because no rain had fallen for a long time. There, Elijah met a widow. He asked her for a little water to drink, and also a piece of bread. The widow had only a handful of flour and a little oil, yet she still gave what she had to Elijah.

Perhaps you think, how can I give to others, when even for myself there is not enough?

In truth, giving is simply from what is with you, not from what is not there. Do you remember the story of the poor widow who put the two small coins she had into the offering box (Mark 12:41-44)? Jesus praised this woman's offering, because she gave out of her lack, all that she had (Mark 12:44).

So, making a big difference in the world can be done by doing small things. What you do may not be something wow, but through it, you have made a big difference in someone else's life. 

Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9 

Give it a try!

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