There are days when the to-do list does not feel very exciting. Weeks when the things calling for our attention feel deeply mundane.
That pile of emails, that piece of bureaucracy, that message that needs passing on – hardly cutting-edge ministry, just stuff that needs to be done. Many of us would prefer to spend our time on things that feel more strategic, more impactful – after all, what eternal fruit comes from signing some cards, chatting about refreshments or filling in a form? But take a closer look at God’s word and we see the little things of life can be filled with meaning and value; they are the context in which much can be transformed.
Small is mandated
God cares about the small things. More than that, He calls people to ensure they get done. In the Old Testament, the Levites had the privilege of being priests. The headline tasks were all about performing sacrifices – being people who pointed to the coming of the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. But, along the way, God set aside Levites for rather less headline roles. There was the priest in charge of baking bread, the man set aside for counting utensils, the one in charge of mixing spices, even the one with the responsibility for looking after the flour. And these weren’t the young priests learning the ropes, these were all heads of families, leaders who served in important but less than impressive ways (1 Chron. 9:28-34). In the New Testament, we find men – full of the Spirit and known for their wisdom – set aside to oversee food distribution (Acts 6). Stephen, one of these men, was martyred for his faith but his main role was sorting food for the widows.
Small matters
Believers are called to these small things, not just because God is comprehensive in the way He orders the community of believers, but because the small matters. Leaders cannot lead, believers cannot worship rightly, if the small things are neglected.
How ridiculous would it have been, to bring an offering to the Lord only to find that no-one had kept the fire going? How fruitless is it to engage in mission today without the ability to relate to others in familial ways (1 Thess. 2:8)? Even the most beautiful building project is a matter of shame if health and safety is not observed and people get hurt (Deut.22:8). All the sermons in the world (no matter how brilliantly crafted) will not bring a congregation to maturity if the simple art of speaking the truth in love to one another is neglected (Eph. 4:15). God’s plans for the church include the small things, not just the big.
Small is missional
It is worth noting too that an emphasis on the small things is not a call to inward-looking distraction. When we do the little tasks, progress the mundane, engage in everyday conversations with Christlike character, this is all part of the church reaching out and growing. Because it is when we become the community that reflects God’s will and God’s ways that the church multiplies. Of course, explicit evangelism is required – that is absolutely clear – but it is as the church meets, eats, and ensures the needs of others are met, that those who are not yet believers are drawn to its counter-cultural beauty (Acts 2:42-47). It is as quiet conversations of encouragement happen, around everyday matters, that God’s people are spurred on to serve (Heb.10:24). It is as we get involved in the small things of each other’s lives, and apply God’s word as and when little opportunities arise, that we take off our old self and put on our new (Eph. 4:22-24).
So, this month, as the to-do list spirals, the emails overwhelm, the paperwork multiplies and the less than exciting conversations abound, remember the Lord is at work. Each small thing can grow you and those around in ways that have eternal consequences. And that is very far from mundane!
