“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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Contents:
1) The Little Things (Doy Moyer)
2) “The Voice of Grief” (Jarrod M. Jacobs)
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The Little Things
Doy Moyer
People often seem prone to wanting big things out of life. If we are going to accomplish anything, we want it to be big, fancy, and impressive. Culturally, we tend to think in terms of big names, sports and movie stars, or heroic action. Famous people get our attention. Consequently, we might not think as much about the little things. These tend to get lost in the mix, go unnoticed, or downplayed in importance. The big things are what matter, we think, but are we missing something?
We might recall Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria and a mighty man of valor (2 Kings 5). Sadly, for him, he was a leper. After a young girl from Israel was captured, she suggested a prophet in Israel who could heal him. Naaman finally went to see Elisha, who told him to go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman was angry about this, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.” He thought the rivers from which he came were better, and he left in a rage. His servant, however, came to him and said, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” Naaman finally went to the Jordan, did what he was told, and was healed.
That mindset of Naaman is not uncommon. We look for pomp and show sometimes, some great thing to happen, and look down on the little things. What we may not realize, however, is that the little things are far more important than what we might know. It takes humility on our part to recognize this and be responsible for those little things that may not be seen as much. Consider the principles we see in some example passages:
1. The parable of the talents demonstrates that one who is faithful with a little will be faithful with more (Matt 25:14-30). Both the five talent and two talent men were commended for what they received and did. They were told, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” The one talent man, however, hid his talent and did nothing to add to it. When the master returned, the man gave the talent back, saying, “Here, you have what is yours.” His attitude was one of trying to do just enough to get by. It didn’t work, and he was rebuked: “You wicked and slothful servant!” If we are not faithful in the little things, we cannot expect to be rewarded with the bigger and greater things.
2. Luke records Jesus teaching this lesson after telling the parable of the dishonest manager: “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?” (Luke 16:10-12). The principle shows that the little things matter because it speaks to the issue of trust. If one cannot be trusted with the little things, why should that one be trusted with bigger things? Faithfulness should not depend on how big the prize is or how little the job is. If we are faithful at all, we will be faithful over all for which we are responsible.
We must not measure a task by how big or little it is. Rather, we must see to it that we are faithful over any task with which we have been entrusted. We need not sound trumpets before us, parade our work about to get the credit, or fret when others don’t see us acting. After all, “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matt 6:4). Our emphasis is not to do some great thing, but rather to glorify God in any way that opportunity affords.
Paying attention to the big things and ignoring the little things will turn us into hypocrites, for we will give the impression that we care when our works are seen. Yet if we care only that we are noticed, then when we are tasked with something not impressive, we may be willing to pass it by or do less than our best. Our attitude becomes, “Here you have what is yours,” and the Lord will call us wicked and lazy. Pay attention, then, to the little things and be dedicated to giving your best no matter the size of the task or the greatness of the reward. Our goal is to be faithful to whatever we have and thereby glorify God. He, then, will exalt the humble in His time and in His way.
— Via Bulletin Articles from the Vestavia church of Christ, January 26, 2025
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“The Voice of Grief”
Jarrod M. Jacobs
The book of Ruth touches on many aspects of the human experience. In Ruth 1:11-14, 20-21, we are touched by the grief experienced by a lady who had been widowed and lost her grown sons. We are not told the length of time that has passed between the death of her husband and sons and her intention to return to Bethlehem, but she continued to grieve their passing. While she will have some relief in returning to her homeland, imagine the pain she would experience in leaving her husband and sons’ bodies in Moab.
Now that she plans to return, she sees her daughters-in-law intending to return with her (1:7, 10). To this action, Naomi responds by demanding they return to their “mother’s house” and marry new husbands (1:8). At their insistence that they will travel with her (v. 10), she reminds them that she has no one for them to marry (1:11-13). This might seem strange in the 21st century, but in those days, it was common among the Jews for the widow to marry her brother-in-law (Gen. 38:11; Deut. 25:5). This was called the “Levirate law.” In this situation, since neither widow had another prospect for a husband, and Naomi saw herself as past the age of childbearing, she was content to send them back to their respective homes in Moab to start over again with new husbands.
People often express grief by pushing others away from them. This is what Naomi was doing. When she needed support, love, and concern from Orpah and Ruth (for indeed, these women knew what it was like to lose a husband), she thought it better to send them away and return home alone. How much more fitting might the statement of Ruth 1:21 have been if she had done this?
During times of extreme emotional distress is no time to make life-changing decisions. Nor is it a time to be alone! Solomon taught us, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecc. 4:9-12). God didn’t create us to be hermits but to be socially connected (Gen. 2:18). In times of hardship, grief, and the like, we need one another all the more (Isa. 35:3-4; Heb. 12:12; I Thess. 5:14)! Naomi, however, would have none of this (Ruth 1:8-9, 11-14).
Have you been guilty of pushing people away from you when you need them the most? Sometimes, folks will push God out of their lives when in extreme sorrow or loss. This is an even worse mistake than what Naomi was trying to do! “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart…” (Ps. 34:18). Are we drawing closer to God when in a time of sadness or grief (Jas. 4:8)? If not, why not? Remember, God is always there, ready to comfort and guide us.
During times of grief is no time to push God away. It is no time to push loving people out of our lives, especially brethren. This is the time we need that comfort and support. Sadly, Naomi did not see her need for such support. Thankfully, Ruth did (Ruth 1:16-17)!
When faced with grief, it is crucial to learn from Naomi’s actions and avoid pushing away those who can provide comfort and support. The Scriptures provide us with this lesson (Rom. 15:4; I Cor. 10:11). Don’t ignore it!
— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, January 2025
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
2) Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…
6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first): 7 p.m. Bible Classes
First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)
