DAY 84
Small Stuff
SCRIPTURE PASSAGE:
Exodus 4:1-5
MEMORY VERSE:
Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is
faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
“Don’t sweat the small stuff!” is a common expression. There is truth in this. “Don’t make a mountain out of
a mole hill!” carries a similar thought. In other words, there are times to exercise patience, forgiveness, and
forbearance. There is a difference between a lump in your oatmeal and a lump in your breast. The first
should be patiently ignored. A lump in your oatmeal is not worth complaining about. Don’t sweat the small
stuff! Eat it graciously! However, a lump in your breast can be a serious, life-threatening sign and should be
dealt with immediately. That should not be ignored! Don’t ignore the small stuff! Consider the importance
of something very small in the following thought:
For want of a horseshoe nail, a horseshoe was lost;
For want of a horseshoe, a horse was lost;
For want of a horse, a rider was lost;
For want of a rider, a message was lost;
For want of a message, a battle was lost;
For want of a battle, a war was lost––all because a small horseshoe nail was lost!
Exodus 4:1-5 Today’s passage gives us a clear picture of God’s power using something insignificant. Moses
had been a shepherd, but now God had called him to do a much greater task. He had chosen Moses to lead
the Children of Israel out of Egypt. God first revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush and there
declared Who He was: And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM (Exodus 3:14)––the Almighty Selfexistent Jehovah! He would use Moses to free His people from the slavery of Pharaoh and lead them to a
land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:17). Moses objected: ...they will not believe me nor hearken
unto my voice. God proved His power to Moses. Moses needed to understand that it would not be HIS
power that would accomplish the task but GOD’s! He was only to be the vessel. God used Moses’ common
shepherd crook––a mere stick––to display His power. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine
hand? And he said, A rod. And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became
a serpent, and Moses fled from before it. In Moses’ hand, his rod was a simple tool used to herd sheep. In
God’s hand, it became a living serpent! What is it you hold in your hand? No matter how small or common,
it can be powerfully used when given to God. Don’t ignore the small stuff!
Mrs. F. W. Suffield wrote the following hymn. “Little Is Much When God Is in It”
Does the place you’re called to labor seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it, and He’ll not forget His own.
Little is much when God is in it. Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown, and you can win it if you go in Jesus’ name.
DIGGING DEEPER DAY 84
Don’t sweat the small stuff! Small things can lead to contention. When we lose our focus and get all worked
up over things that are not truly important, it usually leads to conflict. Proverbs 13:10 tells us clearly that
Only by pride cometh contention... We argue about the small stuff because we want others to know WE
are right. It is a matter of pride. Even the Christians at Corinth were in a dispute, arguing like little
children! Some of them had become believers under Paul, others under Apollos. Paul explained firmly that
both he and Apollos were used of the Lord. Paul had first told them about the Lord––planted the seed of
the Gospel––and Apollos came after and added to their understanding––watered the seed of the Gospel. Fill
in the blanks with the answer that Paul gave to the people in I Corinthians 3:6 that settled the controversy.
I
have
_________________,
Apollos
__________________,
but
___________
_____________________________________________.
You see, both Paul and Apollos were only vessels in God’s hands. The work was not theirs; it was God’s.
They gave themselves to the Lord, and He used them. John 15:5b tells us this very thing in Jesus’ own
words: ...for without Me, _________________________________. As Christ works in us and through us,
HE accomplishes the task. It should be our purpose from the start to do everything as unto the Lord.
Ephesians 6:6-7 Not with eyeservice, as _______________________; but as the _____________ of
____________, doing the will of God from the__________; With good will doing service, as to the
____________, and not to ______________.
Don’t ignore the small stuff! Small things can be harmful! Song of Solomon 2:15 gives us this warning: Take
us the ___________, the little _______________ that spoil the vines... Just as the little foxes invaded the
vineyard, almost unnoticed, and destroyed the grapes, so little frustrations and irritations can subtly invade
our lives and spoil relationships.
Small things can yield great influence. James 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so
_____________, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they ______________ about with a very
____________________________, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Small things can be a blessing to many. John 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath _______ barley
____________, and __________________________________: but what are they among so many? In the
little boy’s hands, his lunch was only enough for himself. In God’s hands, those little rolls and small fish fed
thousands!
Small things will one day bring reward. Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a _______ of
____________ to drink in My name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his
_______________. God keeps track of small things! We return to the question God asked Moses: What is
that in thine hand? When given to Him, God takes our small abilities and does great things. Have you
offered yours to the Lord? We can be too big for God to use, but never too small!