Seriously… do you realize that it IS the little things that make the most difference.
“40 “He who receives and welcomes you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives and welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous (honorable) man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.” [Matthew 10:40-42]
I can almost hear you say –
‘well, yes – I can understand the Lord isn’t a little thing, and a prophet isn’t a little thing, nor a righteous man, but a cup of water? I don’t think so’.
According to whose standards? Now read these 3 verses backwards.
“42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. 41 He who receives and welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous (honorable) man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 40 He who receives and welcomes you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
A different way of looking at ‘little’? In the Lord’s eyes sees your heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and honors this. Soooo… do you allow your heart to lead you? Are you aware of the ‘little things’? The waitress’ eyes of sadness, the anger in someone’s words that really aren’t directed at you but at someone the speaker can’t express to their ‘target’. With a child, they cry (visibly) and you know they are sad, hurt, angry, etc. Adults, I believe most don’t remember how to cry. Some definitely use it as a weapon or passive aggressive behavior. But we really can tell when someone is crying on the inside first.
Does crying (other than a child’s) make you uncomfortable? Are you a ‘fixer’ and don’t know the cause, or sometimes you do, but don’t know what to do? Is your primary goal to stop the crying or give comfort? And yes, we do have our scriptural basis – Romans 12:15
“Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief].”
While it’s great fun to add to the joy of those rejoicing… can/will we share in other’s grief? Some people seem to have that gifting that just eliminates their own self from the situation and focuses only on the person. Many people stand embarrassed at not knowing what to do or say. Stop trying to find a fix and focus on comforting. The ‘… I only gave them a hug, I didn’t do anything.’ But it isn’t a little thing.
So what is your definition of a ‘little thing’? Does it really apply? In the final judgment…
“34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me [with help and ministering care]; I was in prison, and you came to Me [ignoring personal danger].’
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.’” [Matthew 25:34-40]
I rest my case. There really is no such thing as ‘little thing’ to those who have an outstretched hand to others. It does begin in the heart and then is proved by the hand.
