Little is Much

1 Corinthians 1:25-29, This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.  As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

When God is involved little is much!

     1.     A Little Lunch Feeds 5000+ (Matthew 14:13-21):  After a long day of teaching on the side of a mountain, Jesus asked his disciples to feed a very large crowd.  The people had been there listening to Jesus all day and they were hungry.  Jesus said that if he sent them away they would faint from hunger on the way home.  The disciples brought Jesus a little boy’s lunch consisting of 5 small loaves (dinner roll size) and 2 small fish.  Jesus broke the bread and fish and with them fed 5000 men plus women and children.  Starting with only 5 loaves of bread and 3 fish they had 12 baskets of leftovers after everyone had eaten their fill. 

     2.    A Little Army Vanquishes the Foe (Judges 7:1-7): God called Gideon to lead the army of Israel.  He began with 32,000 soldiers.  God told him to let all who were afraid to go home, this left 10,000 soldiers.  God said that 10,000 was still too many. He had Gideon have the men drink from the stream. Those who lapped like a dog were sent home leaving only 300 men. With only 300 men the Israelite army routed the Midianite army.

     3.     A Little Weapon Knocks Out a Giant (1 Samuel 17:32-51): David took only a sling shot and five smooth stones when he went out to face Goliath.  King Saul tried to give David his armor and sword but being smaller than Saul and being a shepherd David was uncomfortable wearing it. He chose instead to rely on the power of God and his sling shot. With one smooth stone he knocked Goliath out and then used the giant’s own sword to cut off his head and finish the job.  God brought victory to the Israelites through a sling and a stone.

     4.     A Little Mite is Worth More Than a Big Offering (Luke 21:1-4): While Jesus and the disciples were sitting in the temple they watched a poor widow place two small coins (a mite) into the offering box.  They also witnessed many rich people give big offerings.  Jesus told them that the poor widow gave more than all of them because she gave out of her need and they gave out of their surplus.  Here we see that God does not judge our gifts by their amount, but by our hearts and what they cost us. 

We read in 1 Corinthians 1:25-29 that God’s uses the foolish things of this life to confound the wise.  He uses small things, weak things, and unlikely things.  He takes the little we have to offer and uses us to do extraordinary things for his Kingdom.

Jesus took fishermen, tax collectors, tradesmen, and a zealot and created a team who would change their world with the Gospel.  Peter, for instance, denied even knowing Christ three times, yet on the Day of Pentecost he preached the first sermon of the New Testament Church, resulting in the conversion of 3000 people. 

We all have talents and abilities that we can offer God.  None of us can take credit for anything we do for the Lord because the Word tells us that apart from him we can do nothing (John 15:5).  It is the Spirit who gives the gifts, talents, abilities and it is our job to use them for Christ.  (1 Corinthians 12:11). As we yield our will to his and allow him to direct our steps he takes our little and makes it usable for the advancement of his Kingdom and his will. 

Let us strive to offer up our little and allow God to make it much!!!!

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.