Think Globally. Act Locally.
So lately I've been reading this book called Butterfly in Brazil by Glenn Packiam (Great book). The caption on this book is, "How your life can make a world of difference." That's something we all want, isn't it? I mean everyone wants to change the world, leave their mark in some way, shape, or form. The question is how?
Chapter seven in this book is titled "yourspace." This chapter was so personally compelling to me because it spoke on how many of us yearn so strongly to do great and mighty things for the Lord, yet are unwilling to do the simple, seemingly mundane things that actually spark the biggest change.
For instance, Packiam told the story of Martin Luther. Luther is known as a great spiritual leader and the founder of Protestantism. However, this great motion all started when Luther nailed his "95 Theses" (contesting abuses of the Catholic church) to his local church door. Luther could've chosen to send that letter anywhere, to anyone important. However, he cared so greatly about the people within his daily reach, that he nailed those these right where they would see them.
I wonder if we're so concerned about affecting great and important people of the world in great and important ways that we miss chances to affect small and ordinary people in small and ordinary ways. We say, "Come on God! I know I haven't done much for you at all, but I want to find a cheap and easy cure to AIDS then distribute it all through Africa and completely eradicate it from continent!" Now as great as that would be and as much glory as it would bring to God, he doesn't quite work like that.
In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells a parable about a rich master going on vacation. He leaves one of his servants five talents (money back in the day), another two talents, and the last one talent ("Each according to their ability"). Then he went on his journey. Coming back, he inquired to each of his servants about the money he left them. Both the servant with five talents and the servant with two talents had gone out, invested, and doubled their master's money. To this the master said, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much." However, the servant with one talent went and hid it so that he wouldn't lose it. To this, the master was very angry and took his talent to give to the servant with ten.
There are a couple things I would like to point out here. First of all, the wise servants who were given talents went out and worked to double them. We can't keep our God-callings at home. We must invest them. Go and do whatever it may be that you are called to. Second of all, the master gave to his servants, "Each according to their ability." He did not just give any one of his servants the most responsibility. The servants earned it by daily (locally) proving that they were worthy of the task at hand. I'm sure they did not snub the little tasks given to them, but looked for every opportunity to work hard in order to one day have it pay off. And it did. It can for you (and me!), too. But we have to tale every task that is given to us. Don't snub the little things; look for them! Work diligently at everything given to you and God will keep entrusting you with more.
Chapter seven in this book is titled "yourspace." This chapter was so personally compelling to me because it spoke on how many of us yearn so strongly to do great and mighty things for the Lord, yet are unwilling to do the simple, seemingly mundane things that actually spark the biggest change.
For instance, Packiam told the story of Martin Luther. Luther is known as a great spiritual leader and the founder of Protestantism. However, this great motion all started when Luther nailed his "95 Theses" (contesting abuses of the Catholic church) to his local church door. Luther could've chosen to send that letter anywhere, to anyone important. However, he cared so greatly about the people within his daily reach, that he nailed those these right where they would see them.
I wonder if we're so concerned about affecting great and important people of the world in great and important ways that we miss chances to affect small and ordinary people in small and ordinary ways. We say, "Come on God! I know I haven't done much for you at all, but I want to find a cheap and easy cure to AIDS then distribute it all through Africa and completely eradicate it from continent!" Now as great as that would be and as much glory as it would bring to God, he doesn't quite work like that.
In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells a parable about a rich master going on vacation. He leaves one of his servants five talents (money back in the day), another two talents, and the last one talent ("Each according to their ability"). Then he went on his journey. Coming back, he inquired to each of his servants about the money he left them. Both the servant with five talents and the servant with two talents had gone out, invested, and doubled their master's money. To this the master said, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much." However, the servant with one talent went and hid it so that he wouldn't lose it. To this, the master was very angry and took his talent to give to the servant with ten.
There are a couple things I would like to point out here. First of all, the wise servants who were given talents went out and worked to double them. We can't keep our God-callings at home. We must invest them. Go and do whatever it may be that you are called to. Second of all, the master gave to his servants, "Each according to their ability." He did not just give any one of his servants the most responsibility. The servants earned it by daily (locally) proving that they were worthy of the task at hand. I'm sure they did not snub the little tasks given to them, but looked for every opportunity to work hard in order to one day have it pay off. And it did. It can for you (and me!), too. But we have to tale every task that is given to us. Don't snub the little things; look for them! Work diligently at everything given to you and God will keep entrusting you with more.
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