The Day Of Small Things

 When Jewish exiles had returned from Babylonian captivity, and the foundations of the temple were laid, some lamented what they believed to be inferior to the prior temple erected by Solomon.  Ezra, a priest and scribe leading the people, observed that many of the older Jews who still recalled the earlier temple “the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes,.” ( Ezra 3:12 )  As construction progressed, and interest lagged, the prophet Haggai said, “Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?” ( Haggai 2:3 )   He would later ask, “Who has despised the day of small things?” ( Zechariah 4:10a )  They were not taking into account the hand of God, but they are assured that “ The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former says the Lord of hosts,” ( Haggai 2:9a ).  

Today is counted as a day of big things: big cars, big malls, big spending, big business and, yes, big churches.  The danger is that we begin to rely upon the big things and forget the smaller things.  If you were to reply to Haggai’s question, “Who has despised the day of small things?” would you answer, “I have”?  Consider some small things that we underestimate :

A kind word – perhaps a compliment, a word of sympathy, or just a friendly greeting can lift a despairing heart.  Proverbs 12:25 reminds us, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.” 

 A smile will often gladden where big things fail.  Joseph Addison once observed: “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity; they are but trifles, to be sure, but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.” 

A minute of time can be one of life’s precious diamonds.  Someone once wrote, “Lost: yesterday, between sunrise and sunset, 2 golden hours, each with 60 diamond minutes.  No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.”  Can you spare a minute to say a prayer, do a good deed, or lift another’s burden? To waste that precious minute is to suffer great loss. 

Today is a small thing, too often ignored.  But the word of God admonishes us : “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain – ² for He says, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation.” ( 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 ).   

Let us not be among those that would “despised the day of small things.”                                    By Ron Bartanen,  Author, Ill.