The Importance of Small Things

“WHOEVER SOWS GENEROUSLY WILL ALSO PEAP GENEROUSLY.” 2 COR 9:6 NIV

Have you ever gone to a restaurant with somebody whose meal cost $8, and watched them struggle over the tip? They have $2 in change, and they know that leaving just $1 might be thought of as stingy. Yet, do they leave $2? Not on your life! That would be too much. Instead they’ll waste ten minutes getting change for that second dollar so they can leave $1.50 tip and save themselves 50 cents, rather than “sow generously” and leave a little extra. What would have happened if they’d left the full $2? They would have made the waiter or waitress’s day. Fifty cents may not seem like much, but the message that goes along with it can mean the world to someone. It says, “Thanks, you did a good job, I appreciate you, you’re valuable.” Maybe this message gets lost – your server just sweeps up the tip without counting – but you, the one who “sows generously” will still “reap generously.”

What an opportunity. We can increase the happiness of others and bless ourselves, with just pocket change. This is just one tiny example of the many ways in which the small things we do have surprisingly big repercussions.

Small acts of kindness set the tone for our day. Going the extra mile – whether it’s a slightly larger tip, an unexpected compliment or gift, or just holding a door open for someone – costs very little and gets you a lot. And here’s one more thought: we can have mountain-moving faith, understand and explain all the deep doctrines of the Bible and get top marks for persona holiness, yet God’s Word says that without love “I am nothing” (See Col 13:2).