The story of the “Man of God” who came from Jerusalem to confront Jeroboam of his sin is a sad story. He courageously stands against the public tide to speak against Jeroboam’s sin. He steadfastly resists the temptations of the king to sit and eat when God told him not to. Yet, when confronted with a false prophet who lies to him, this man of God eats in violation of his God given commission, and it costs him his life.
Gene Rice observes, “There is no more ringing affirmation in the Bible of the importance of obedience, particularly in “little things,” than in the tragic fate of the man of God from Judah. He was heroic in obedience to the command to deliver—at great risk to himself—the prophecy against the altar at Bethel, but accepted too readily the alleged revelation of another that contradicted the revelation God had given him.”
It’s often the “little things” that trip us up. God seems to be very interested in the little things in our lives. These are the things that reveal our true character. If we can focus on the day to day “little things” of our lives, the so called, “big things” will pretty much take care of themselves. Jesus once said, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.”
Further Jesus tells us that great rewards await those who are faithful in the “little things.” Luke 19:17 says, “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.”
Pay close attention to the little things of life.
Chuck
“Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” Colossians 3:9-10