Word for the week
You can regularly receive our Word for the Week by
contacting the IBC‒Office.
In the Small Things
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” (Zechariah 4:10 NLT)
Dear Friends and Members of IBC,
On Sunday we announced the ‘Christmas in a Box’ initiative that we are doing again this year. Working with the Bibel Mission, we are encouraging everyone to pack a Christmas parcel, that will be delivered to children in poor families in Eastern Europe. You can find a list of what to pack in our bulletin. In this week’s Word for the Week, I will share a brief thought on the importance of serving ‘in the small things’.
The German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer believed that one of the key acts of service we should perform in a Christian community is that of ‘active helpfulness’. He said we should always be ready to give simple assistance in seemingly trivial matters. And the Bible doesn’t overlook service in the small things. There are many details mentioned that draw our attention to how the early disciples helped each other in external matters.
A few examples are Paul’s request to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:13 for him to “bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments”, as well as the different items of clothing that Tabitha made for people (Acts 9:36-39).
I also think of the boy who shared his lunch of bread and fish with the disciples, and the servants who filled up the empty water pots with water at the wedding in Cana. Thanks to these small, faithful acts, the world is still be talking about the miracles that were witnessed on those days.
There is also an important spiritual principle that underlies service in the practical things. We often place great value on large, time-consuming tasks, but the small things constantly require something from us, they require an attitude of always being willing to sacrifice. This is in line with the general heart posture of consistently being available to serve when we are called on or see the opportunity. This is hard! But it was what Jesus exhorted his disciples to be: a servant of all.
God Bless
James
