One Sunday morning in November 2019 we had a lovely man called Bill Gallatin from Calvary Chapel, Finger Lakes come and speak at our Church in Westminster. He gave a wonderfully encouraging sermon and in the middle of his talk I heard him say, “Take the little that you have and use it to serve Jesus.” These words immediately stood out to me and I liked how the focus was on using what we already have instead of looking to the things we wish we had.
Before long I found myself writing the first few lines of my poem as Bill’s words were very much in line with something I felt the Lord had been putting on my heart for a while. The Lord had been showing me that sometimes we may feel our efforts and lives are inadequate and don’t “measure up” to the influence other people can make for God’s Kingdom. Most of us don’t have millions of pounds in the bank or worldwide ministries that reach the masses but this isn’t what’s important in God’s eyes.
As I’ve often heard my Pastor say, what’s important to Jesus is that we’re faithful with whatever it is He’s given to us and put around us in our lives. Perhaps our ministry is to sow the seed of God’s Word and the love of Christ into the lives of our children. Maybe it’s to be the best employee or employer we can be to bring a strong witness to those around us in the workplace. Perhaps we do have a large ministry that reaches thousands and our role then is to be faithful with the responsibility of being the shepherd or teacher for the people God has placed within our care.
We don’t need to be doing incredible things in the world’s eyes, we just have to be doing the best we can with what Jesus has already given us. Whatever our calling is in life it’s faithfulness that God rewards and it’s our faithfulness that God will use because the power and glory belong to Him.
These were the thoughts that inspired me to write the rest of my poem, “The Little That You Have” and I pray it can be an encouragement and a reminder for us all that we need never compare ourselves to others. All we have to do is thank God for blessing us with what we do have and use it for His glory!
Take O’ Christian, the little that you have and commit your way to the Lord.Before long I found myself writing the first few lines of my poem as Bill’s words were very much in line with something I felt the Lord had been putting on my heart for a while. The Lord had been showing me that sometimes we may feel our efforts and lives are inadequate and don’t “measure up” to the influence other people can make for God’s Kingdom. Most of us don’t have millions of pounds in the bank or worldwide ministries that reach the masses but this isn’t what’s important in God’s eyes.
As I’ve often heard my Pastor say, what’s important to Jesus is that we’re faithful with whatever it is He’s given to us and put around us in our lives. Perhaps our ministry is to sow the seed of God’s Word and the love of Christ into the lives of our children. Maybe it’s to be the best employee or employer we can be to bring a strong witness to those around us in the workplace. Perhaps we do have a large ministry that reaches thousands and our role then is to be faithful with the responsibility of being the shepherd or teacher for the people God has placed within our care.
We don’t need to be doing incredible things in the world’s eyes, we just have to be doing the best we can with what Jesus has already given us. Whatever our calling is in life it’s faithfulness that God rewards and it’s our faithfulness that God will use because the power and glory belong to Him.
These were the thoughts that inspired me to write the rest of my poem, “The Little That You Have” and I pray it can be an encouragement and a reminder for us all that we need never compare ourselves to others. All we have to do is thank God for blessing us with what we do have and use it for His glory!
The impact you make you may not know now but in Heaven you’ll gain your reward!
Do not underestimate what you can do or the differences you can achieve,
The power belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, all you need to do is believe.
Be faithful O’ Christian with the little that you have and view not your gifts with disdain.
Commit every effort to God’s mighty care and trust it will honour His name.
“Behold, I’m inadequate!” often we cry, “I have not the strength or the power!”
But you are the one whom Jesus has sent and placed there for this very hour.
Keep on dear Christian and do not lose heart for whatever your calling or skill,
Your life can be used in so many ways to achieve and accomplish God’s will!
Trust in His wisdom, the Lord will provide, His power will always suffice.
Wherever He leads you and asks you to go, remember you’re strengthened by Christ.
Yes take O’ Christian, the little that you have and look not to gain man’s applaud.
The Lord sees your labours and knows them by heart, do all for the glory of God!
Be bold as you joyfully serve in His name for whatever the price you have paid,
One day in His Kingdom our God will reveal the difference your faithfulness made!
Psalm 62:11-12
“God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.
Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;
For You render to each one according to his work.”
Matthew 6:1-4
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”
Matthew 25:20-23
“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
Mark 12:41-44
“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.””
Colossians 3:23-24
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
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