======================================================================== FAITHFUL IN THE LITTLE THINGS by Atlee Yoder ======================================================================== Summary: This sermon emphasizes the importance of being faithful in the little things, as it reflects our faithfulness in greater matters. It touches on the significance of small acts of kindness, the impact of neglecting the least, and the need to prioritize righteousness over worldly desires. The message highlights the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, showcasing the eternal consequences of neglecting those in need and failing to be faithful in small matters. Duration: 1:13:24 Topics: "Faithfulness in Small Things", "Eternal Consequences of Neglect" Scripture References: Luke 16:10, Matthew 25:21, James 1:14, Matthew 10:29, Galatians 5:9, Luke 16:19, 1 John 2:15, Matthew 17:20, Judges 15:4, James 1:14 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This sermon emphasizes the importance of being faithful in the little things, as it reflects our faithfulness in greater matters. It touches on the significance of small acts of kindness, the impact of neglecting the least, and the need to prioritize righteousness over worldly desires. The message highlights the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, showcasing the eternal consequences of neglecting those in need and failing to be faithful in small matters. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Greetings. I feel like I have it on wrong, but I don't know for sure. That's right. Okay. It's just awkward. All right. Well, I just want to express my gratefulness to the Lord. Where do we start? It's just so many things. I'm just really thankful to see everyone. Tall, small, young and old as we're all assembled. I just want to really wish everyone to have the Holy Spirit and to be blessed in their walk with God this morning. I can testify I've been blessed just with the word and with your testimony there, testimonies there, Teo. Like you said, you alluded to the seed that was sown and how some springs up fast. Some may get to the top very fast, but they waste, spend all their energy getting there. Can't get back. It's kind of a different, for me, it's a little of a different angle to look at, but there's so many different spiritual lessons or angles to look at our spiritual walk with the Lord. But that's a good one. That's a really good one. I don't want to try to set the pace for anyone. You know, we're on this journey and I don't think that's at all what Teo was trying to do either. Setting the pace for someone's walk with the Lord is between them and the Lord and somehow we have to leave that like that. But working out our own salvation with fear and trembling is what it comes down to. That's important things. Yeah, for a message this morning, it's kind of funny how it started. I guess if I remember right, I thought of this verse Friday night when I was at Walmart in Jane, Missouri. We were coming back from preaching and we stopped there. And maybe I wouldn't have to say the story even, but just as it goes, people are wasteful. And there they were throwing out their rotisserie chicken and just handful after handful of chicken and sandwiches that were hot. I walked past and I asked them if they're throwing it out. And they said, yeah, yeah, it's going to the trash. And he just kind of gave me the cold shoulder and that's what we're doing. Anyhow, I thought of this verse. He is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. He that is unjust in least is unjust in much. I hope it's not a stretch. I'm just saying that's where my mind went. I think I could make the connection in my mind pretty quick how big corporations seemingly just are blinded in this area. Somehow things happen like that. And I don't think it's hard for us to see that. What might be harder, at least for myself, is to know whether I'm faithful in the things that are least. He says, he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. And I really had gone over the rest of that story there. Probably that story there in Luke 16, that's where I'm going to be talking out of. Not, I mean, I have other places to go to, but that story that Jesus left us with is probably one of the harder things for me to comprehend. And maybe there's others here that have that story more down and understand exactly what every verse means. I know that we don't or I don't have the right to somehow say that Jesus is saying two opposing things here. I don't think he is. Jesus has the right to make life stories and lessons out of whatever he wants to, and that's okay. But it does seem like the story builds itself up to that verse. And to be fair with that story, the things that I saw when I studied it just last night and this morning was verse one and two, like it's not guaranteed there that this guy was actually rightfully accused of wasting the master's goods. And I think that would leave, oh, how would you say? It would at least give me a little more understanding maybe of that verse or of that story, that the fact that that man is accused doesn't, that's as far as it takes, it doesn't really say that he was rightfully or wrongfully accused of this. He was accused of having wasted his master's goods, and he took this accusation very serious. Because, and that's probably why I think that the story leads up to verse 10 where he says, he that is faithful in the least is faithful also in much. Just how, oh, if I can make the connection there, this man was concerned, like this accusation came out and he was in fear, like he, in his mind he was like, what, what shall I do? That's what it says. Verse three says, what shall I do? My Lord, may take away from me the stewardship. And it says, I cannot dig to beg I am ashamed. You know, this man was looking at his options and these two options were not an option for him. And so don't we find ourselves like that in life sometimes where, where there's a trial, there's a test or something coming our way that, that brings us to what shall we do? And that is what most of the world is trying to avoid. Like, maybe I could go back to my incidents there at Walmart. Like they're trying to avoid this. Well, this is a bit tough to know what to do with this. What shall we, no, we're just, the easiest thing is just to throw it out and forget about being faithful in this little bit. After all, we're on top of things. We have a big corporation that can easily hide some of these little things. I think there's a principle about following God and Jesus that just really goes against that mentality. Jesus talked about our words, even the littlest thing is our words that we have to give account for every, every idle word that we speak, shall men give account of. And so, so first of all, I wanted to say that, that I'm approaching this not because I, I think I've reached a climax or some certain perfection in it. But just how it goes. I mean, I, I am, I was asked to do this and I want to, want to do it. I want to find something that's, that would encourage us to, to, to strive for the truth and for the right. And so I wanted to, well, maybe I'll just kind of follow my notes mostly. One thing I thought of is that, okay, here he's mentioning being faithful in the little things is as though you're also being faithful in the, in the big things. And it brought me to thinking how that like, if, if the Lord requires, like if he asks us something we can't really call it a little thing, right? Like once it's a requirement or a commandment, who in here would like to start really spelling out which commandment that we could possibly call the least and then not do it. Especially if we're not going to decide that it's not worth, not a worth commandment to do and just kind of put it, put it to the side. I think in the Lord's eyes, like our heart, he wants to see a heart that set out to do the least, the least. Probably as much as I say that we, we still have a category or a bracket in our minds, maybe more on a personal level than what we can explain. But, but still it's, it's, we need to watch for those, those moments when we're by ourselves, those times when we know that it's, it's between us and the Lord, those kinds of things really come to my mind when I think about being faithful in the least things. Small little defects weaken our relationship with the Lord. I think the Lord is looking also for a heart that can discern how great a small thing can kindle, like James says that in James chapter 3. See how great a fire, fire, a small flame can kindle. And in this life we're always faced with where, where will this lead to? Where will that lead to? Sometimes it's in a very personal way. Sometimes it's more maybe, maybe outside of our families, but I have to think about it for myself personally and my family, how I lead them. The, the influence I leave on them seems small, but it's, but it's really going to bear fruit somehow. We, we leave more of an impression on one another than we think, I believe. We should be very careful how we determine things. Like we should just know how it says there in Matthew 7, that with what judgment we judge, we shall be judged ourselves. And in how, with what measure we measure with, it will be measured back to us. Like that is, oh, you might say like a spiritual reality law. You might say it's just, it's just going to happen. Like who was that man, Isaac Newton, that came up with these philosophies of the, the laws of physics. And he, he wrote books and books and stuff about that. And, but I don't remember him. Not that I read into him much, but I don't remember him saying much about the, the, these kinds of things that this is just the reality of, of things that with what judgment we judge, it will be judged. We will be judged by, but, but he was more talking about the laws of physics and how certain things you just can't really avoid them. How, oh, examples. I can't really think of any examples that he, that he would have said, but, but just, yeah. By, by default, when, when it becomes this time of the year, we expect it to be, to be harvest time. And it's expected that we'll get a frost. And, and this law of nature is something that, that will happen. It's promised to us that it will happen. The, the Lord himself. Okay. So this would be to establish how that small things do matter. And then I want to note how that the Lord himself takes notice of small things. It's in his nature. He cares about, he, he says that, that, that no sparrow falls to the ground without him noticing it. And that he has the hairs of our head all numbered. He notices things like the widow putting in her, her two mites. He noticed that just as many things that, that they're small things that we can just think of that, that he notices them. And, and we should just understand that there is, there is nothing hidden under the, from his eyes, it's all open and exposed. Another thing that goes with that is if we go on down in verse 17, it says, and it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one tittle of the law to fail. I mean, another little thing, like this, just one little, one little part of his law, but it will all come together like a puzzle. And he has, he has it all planned out. Nothing is going to be a mistake. And it's, and walking under the, under the cover of that is, we should just find assurance or some, some kind of a, a blessing and knowing that that's how our God is. And that's how we should look at, Oh, like the promises of this life, that if he says it, then it's just going to be like that. The little boy with the five loaves, loaves and two fishes, he brought just a small little thing along to the, uh, to the day that Jesus was going to be preaching and, and out it went. Jesus could use that small little thing and out it went and fit all the people that were there. I think of those things a little bit in the line of, of faith. Like there's, there's some examples Jesus gave about faith. Um, how it starts in small, but it grows up and it's like a, a tall tree. And in the same way, like faith is the substance of things not seen, but it's the evidence it's the, it's the substance of things not seen and the evidence of things hoped for. If I have that right. Um, and I think I can just easily make the connection between faith starting out small and then also how that bad things start out small and, and they all will take us into a certain direction. And I, uh, to make some examples like that, I want to read there in Luke. Uh, let's go to Matthew chapter 21st. I like, I just like that story. How, um, oh, I have that reference wrong. I'm sorry. Matthew 17, the verse I want to focus on. It says, and Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief for verily I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove and nothing shall be impossible unto you. This, this is the story of, uh, when the disciples were trying to, uh, cast out a demon and then they, they weren't successful. And it came back to Jesus and Jesus told them that this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting. And then he made that, that point real clear that faith is as the grain of, as the grain of a mustard seed. Another one is Matthew 25, verse 21, where it says, his Lord said unto him, well done thou good and faithful servant. Thou has been faithful over a few things. I will make the ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Um, that story in, in, in, uh, judges. I like that one too. I, uh, just going to read that. Judges 15 verse four is the story where this is where Samson was, uh, always at battle with the Philistine Philistines. And here he, okay, I'll read the story. And Samson went and caught 300 foxes and took fire bands and turned tail to tail and put a fire band in the midst between two tails. And when he had set the bands on fire, he let them go into the standing corner of the Philistines and burned up both the shocks and also the standing corn with the vineyards and olives. Then the Philistines said, who has done this? And they said, Samson, the son of law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. Anyhow, just, just how Samson, um, took these things like you, you would think was what can you do with some foxes, just some innocent looking foxes and, and go and, um, and destroy the enemy in that way. And I think, and what I had to think of when I read that was how I wonder sometimes if I, uh, fully understand all the, um, all the abilities that God wants to, to, to give us and, and have us to be victorious, like in our minds and our thoughts, there's, there's many ways that we can exercise, uh, overcoming the enemy by, well, first of all, by doing good to the enemy. But if we, uh, if we go down the road of, of thinking, well, we just don't really have the power to overcome this thing. And we'll just give in a little bit here and a little bit there that will, that will not come out right. That will be, that will be bad, but, but we can know that, that the Lord has, has sufficiently given us what we need to fight the battle and who knows, but it could be some foxes. And those stories are just life lessons that I read in the old Testament and they're encouraging. Um, so a few little subtopics I have as I went through here, I want to look at examples of, uh, okay, so those were mostly things of examples that someone just either had in their presence and God was able to use them and make, make good with it. Examples that they had and they, uh, or things that they had and God was just able to take it and bless whatever needed to be blessed at that moment. The example with the, with the boy, with the fish and the, the five barley loaves and the two fish was, um, not really an expected thing. I don't think he came there probably not knowing for sure what's gonna, what's gonna happen, but he for sure wanted to be there. He wanted to, um, hear the Lord teach and, um, he certainly didn't resist the idea whenever it was brought up as an idea to share that he, we don't read that he resisted and claimed the five barley loaves and two fishes for himself and therefore the Lord could use it and blessings were poured out of that. Anyhow, so that's where, that's where good things can lead to. If we, if we can just somehow be in that frame of mind or have that right, oh, how would you say, just, just be on top of things spiritually. And I know that's a high calling, like that's a, that's an important thing that's not so easily just conquered. But in, in the things that seem the least, I think, I think that's how it starts. Having good thoughts when we wake up in the beginning of the day could be the reason why we have blessings throughout the day, like just a small little thing. We get up and, um, too often I catch myself thinking about negative things of life, that the first thoughts I'm having are, are not good and up building him. And if we, if we go down that road at all, it just seems like it's a non-stopping terrain, like it'll wreck, there's going to be ruin and disaster. But just waking up and being, being thankful for whatever situation we're in, knowing that God is in control of it, that we need just to be in submission to him, um, reading his word, finding, finding encouragement by it, those things can start our, out our day and then, and then take us through. It seems like, like our life is made up of, uh, of little, lots of little things that can easily be unnoticed. Um, there's little things throughout the day that, that might happen that we don't really notice. We, uh, we really have an amazing body. Like when our body wakes up, there's a lot of things that start happening. The adrenaline starts, starts coming back to life and the, uh, the strength, like sometimes when I first get out of bed, my first steps are quite wobbly, you know, I, I'm just not awake yet. But all you have to do is just go wash up and, um, you know, just dress, dress up and, um, for the day and you'll feel awake. And, and those, but there's a lot of things that happen to the body as we, as we wake up. Our, our wee little heart that's in our, in our, uh, chest that seems the least of our members just does so much. And, and the wee little tongue that's, that's in our mouth that, um, I mean, everyone that can talk uses it. It just does so much. And either to the good or to the bad, I, uh, I read a story, a little story. I forget what I was reading. I tried to find it again, but I think it would have been in maybe Leo Tolstoy, uh, Leo Tolstoy story. And I don't have that book right now, but it was something close to this. And this is on the negative, like how little things can lead to, to ruin. Um, two men had a conversation and some of this, I'm now kind of making it up just a little bit, but, but the one man was, was claiming the other one that the, the, the devil made the flies. The devil is the creator of the flies. And the other one thought for a while. He said, no, it couldn't be. Well, sure. Look, look at what all bad they do. And, and then the other guy was convinced, okay, the devil made flies and makes perfectly sense because they're, they're generally looked at as not, not that good. A fly is often very pesting and sure they do some good, but anyhow, the story went on to this man, then convinced the other man that the devil made the worms, you know, the worms that crawl around the ground and the mackets and stuff. He, he created those too. And he, uh, he created the, he created the bad birds that mess up the good birds nests. He created those as well. And the guy just kind of kept saying, yeah, this kind of makes sense. Why not just believe all these things? And it, it went on like the, the man started saying that, yeah. And the devil created bad men and yeah, that makes sense. And by the end, both men were convinced that the devil is the creator of the universe. And so it goes like one little thing just leads on and on and on. And, um, so it goes, we just, we just have, have to be on guard and somehow, I don't know, just somehow know where things can lead to. And I, I hope we're, we're way more grounded than, than believing something like that, but, but it's in us somewhere in us, there's something that we might as well admit it, that we're, we're prone to do some, something like that. And I think just having humility about it and an openness and being willing to be taught and learned, I think is a big thing. Um, I think some of the point that I'm making is, is actually right here in the, the rest of the story, like in Luke 16, the end of the story is the story about the rich man. Um, the point I got out of that was how that the rich man did not notice the poor man. And I think that can easily be done in our lives. Um, I mean, I, I hope we're not, we're not to where we say, well, we're like the rich man and we have to notice the poor man. We should, we should already be not at the place where the rich man was dressed in purple and fine linen and every day faring sumptuously. Um, anyhow, let me read the story and then maybe we can see the points that can be linked with that. Verse 19, there was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. Like what a shame on that man that the dogs took more notice of the man than what the rich man himself did. And this is the rest of the story should be really sobering in how, how the end, it seems like the end destination for these two men really, really shines back on this verse 21 about, um, you know, the rich man faring sumptuously and the poor man being, being desirous of the rich man's crumbs. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And in hell, he lifted up his eyes being in torments and seeing Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, father, Abraham had mercy on me and sent Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tremendous in this flame. And Abraham said, son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receive thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now he is comforted and thou art tremendous. See how it's a complete shift of position. Now in the afterlife, Lazarus, the one with the sores, desiring the crumbs from the rich man's table, he was comforted and the rich man was tremendous. And besides all this between us and you, there is a goal. There's a great goal fixed. You might as well say like there is a permanent barrier. So that they which would pass from hence to you cannot, neither can they pass to us that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore father, this is the rich man that's now poor. I pray thee therefore father that thou would have sent him to my father's house for I have five brethren that he might testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. And he said, nay father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. Like just remember how this rich man, while he was living in his fair sumptuousness every day, he probably had repentance in mind because here he at least has it. Maybe he forgot it, but here somehow he knew about repentance. But the sorry thing is that he desired it when it was too late. He desired it, he wanted it when his time of having it was past, it was over. And there was a great gulf, there was a great jism, says the New Living Translation, separating them. Something that he could plainly see, there's no getting out of this. But being that I can't get out of this, sent this guy that I earlier didn't know to send him back to my brothers. And just very, very much not able to have seen in the beginning where this would lead to. And if we miss out on having that kind of knowledge or understanding or ability to see where small things can lead to, this is the example to look at. All he thought about in his daily life that the rich man was to each day live in luxury. And it seemed like that alone was enough to just have a seer conscience against people that were in need and people that were in situations that were less fortunate for him. And I think about this story a lot. It makes makes way more sense to me than the earlier one that Jesus says. I think I fully understand and I can easily comprehend and make the connections of the good and the bad in it. And then when I bring that into my own life and I start wondering, well, whether or the photos of all the things that you know, of all the people that I could be helping and I don't. And then when I do help someone and I just on the moment make a decision to, yeah, I'm going to stop and help this guy. Just how that just seems and feels right. It's just the right thing to do. And so I think we need to be like pre- meditating to be ready for these moments, to be ready for, ready and prepared to see when we might have, you know, one of these situations. Of course, we think about roadside, you know, people wanting a ride or people wanting to, wanting a meal or something. And we're right at the verge of having to make a quick decision. And those things can be hard. And I want to be critical of myself first. It's hard. But then when you just do that hard thing, we did it the other day. We picked up a guy that was riding a clumsy bike from Diamond to Pierce City and we picked him up and it just turned into a blessing. It was just good spiritual talk that we had. And those things, I don't know where it might lead to and stuff, but those things would be what I think I fail in sometimes. And just noticing, noticing things like that and just quickly you have to make a decision. And here, here it might've been a bit different. This, this man was seemingly daily at, at the rich man's, you know, he was a baker. He was, says he lay at his gate full of sores. And, but, but still if, if the rich man was just moving back and forth so much, he, he might've just not noticed him if he had a big estate and a big, you know, just so many important things, a little bit like Walmart and their, their wee little rotisserie chicken. Like, what's that? It's just a little bit something that we can just throw it out every day. And it's, it's no big deal. And I don't know for sure how God looks at them in particular, but at least for myself, I, I want to take lessons from that and, and understand the, the importance of being faithful in the least. Because it just seems like the reality of that verse makes it sound like if, if we claim to be faithful in the most, but we disregard or we don't, we like willfully or purposefully don't take care of the least, I think we're not faithful in the most was much, but to say most are much. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. The, the, the world, the world loves the, the spotlight mentality and that's what they're after. You can see it in business. You can see it in sports that they're after that goal that, that would give them the spotlight. And it just seems like, uh, that's a dangerous place to be. Like how likely is it for them to miss these smaller things that are so important? These things that could lead us to eternal ruin. I think it's very fitting that verse that John put there in first John chapter two, um, love not the world, near the things of this world. In the world there is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. This is not from the father, but it's, it's, it's the, from the world. And then, uh, that verse in Galatians that says a little leaven, leaven us the whole lump. Like just these little things that when you, when you look at that list, I'd have to look at that. I'm, I feel kind of unprepared hearing some of these things, but I think it's in Galatians where that verse is a little leaven, leaven us the whole lump. I'm going first Corinthians five. Yeah, it must be. It's a two places, a little leaven, leaven us the whole lump is Galatians five verse nine as well. And then if we go on back, we can see the, the list of the works of the flesh and I'll just read them. The work of the flesh, which are these adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, hearsays, envies, murderers, drunkenness, revelings, such like of which I tell you before, and I have told you in the time past that they which do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. And they that are Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. Let us not be desires of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another. Um, that's a big long list. But if one of those things starts working their way into our lives, it can be, it can be over pretty fast. Like if, if something wants, wants to get into our life, another, another thing comes in and soon confusion is there to where we, um, we can so easily start make, trying to mix light and dark and convince ourselves, persuade ourselves in certain ways that, that just, just aren't right. They, they just, um, we just from the beginning need to know the dangers of certain things. Where is that verse, Robert, about, uh, um, lust when it is conceived brings forth sins and first Peter, James one. Let's look at that one a little bit. It's verse 14 and 15. Maybe I'll read down through there. It's, it seems to fit my thoughts so much this morning. Um, James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes, which are scattered abroad. Greetings, my brethren counted all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, knowing this, that the trying of our faith work is patience, but let patience have her perfect work that you may be perfect and wanting nothing. If any of you like wisdom, let him ask of God that give us to all men liberally and a braid is not, and it shall be given him, but let him ask in faith, not waving for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed for let not that man thing that he shall receive anything of the Lord. I think that would fit my thoughts too in how, uh, how easily we can let one of these, the big list that I just read, like one of those things can seem small, but, but if they start working their way in and we still want to claim to be walking in the light, it seems to, to put us in a place of a wavering, like a confusing, um, a confusion. And soon we are like the sea driven with the waves and tossed. And then it says for, let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. Once we're, once we have not asked in faith, once we have started wavering and going down the path of, of a wrong direction, I think the Lord starts withholding. Like I think there's, there's, um, a departure of, uh, uh, wisdom, a departure of knowledge and a departure of, of these important ingredients that, that keep us with a single eye on that path. And then a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoicing that he is exalted, but the rich in that he is made low because as a flower of the grass, he shall pass away for the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass and the flower thereof falleth and the grace of the fashion of it perishes. So also shall the rich man fade in his way. Blessed is the man that endures temptation for when he has tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man, but, and here's, here's the point, but every man is tempted when he has drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin and sin when it's finished brings forth death. I'll read that in the New Living Translation. Remember when you're being tempted, do not say God is tempting me. God is never tempted to do wrong and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from your own desires, which entice you and drag you away. These desires give birth to sinful actions and when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. That's just, that's how it works. Another little story I have found was a court scene and the person there was accused of bank robbery. Well, guess where it all started? He, he, at that, at that day, he confessed that, um, he confessed that it started when he was a youth. He stole a penny out of his mom's pocket when she was sleeping and it turned him into a bank robber. And that's how it goes. But that, that's how I think that's just how it is. If we're, if we're not faithful with, with the little things, they, then we're not also not faithful with the big. And it's just important to be able to see where, where these little things are that we can, we can so easily take care of. If we just take heat and then just the weight of it, if we don't take care of it and we fall into a certain little sin, it can easily turn us into a bank robber. Anyhow, there's, there's, there's hope. Like if we, um, I feel like verse 11 and 12 there in Luke 16 kind of repeat themselves, but, but I see hope in all these areas. Um, we can take courage in that if we are faithful in, in the least, then, then we are faithful in, in, in the much, you know, if we, if we see, um, the little things that we need to take care of in our lives, we have taken care of a lot. Like we have been faithful in the much. Um, if we, like the example I had given of waking up, of waking up and having, having negative thoughts about what all might be ahead of us in the day. Um, if we quickly take care of that and we start meditating on, on things that would build us up and on positive things about the kingdom of God, um, that that's taking care of the great things. That's how you take care of the great, of the bigger things. It's, it puts us on the right track to, to be equipped for, for the bigger things that might come. And I, uh, I don't have many, many thoughts other than that. I just, I think there's some principles though that I had thought about, like Jesus said that, um, how did he say that about those that desire to be the greatest or be the least? I think there's some of those principles that apply here. Like if we, if we have this idea that, that we only need to be in the spotlight and that we just need to take care of the really important things of life. Um, I think we're abusing that, that very principle that Jesus left us with. He that seeks to save his life shall lose it. If we, if we only seek to save our lives and we don't care about, about other things that go on around us and, um, and we have kind of developed this, this idea of what's, what is the least, and we can just kind of let that slip. I think we were trying to save our life, but then Jesus said that he that seeks to save his life shall, shall lose it. And so the, the, the things that the doctrines and the philosophies that Jesus left just are, are completely at odds with, um, world philosophies. So in all this, we, we are somewhere like in all this that I said that we are somewhere either, either moving forward and progressing and more Godliness, more holiness and being more and more sanctified. Um, or I, I would, I would hope we wouldn't be in a case where we'd be digressing. We, we'd be falling slack and, and slipping here, slipping there and, um, dangerously getting close to falling away. The, the Amish preachers used to say that they used to term that there's no still stand. Like there's no, there's no standing still. And I want to apply that for myself for sure. Whether that's all the, all the way back by scriptures, I don't really know for sure, but, but I do think it's, um, whether I like it or not, that either I'm progressing in more truth, more light, more, more walking closer with the Lord or, or less, I don't really know that there's much in between. Um, there's just the way of truth and then there's the, the, the way of darkness. And we are on one of those paths and that's one of those will be our destination. I, uh, just want to make it a matter of prayer. I didn't pray before we started. Maybe I'll pray now and then open it up for closing thoughts or corrections or anything that might be on your hearts. We can stand for prayer. God in heaven, just want to pray to you and with thankfulness want to express, um, how grateful I am for your word and how that we can open it, use it for examples and see the importance of following after it. Just give us a heart that would always be hungry, hungry for righteousness. And we know your promises that we would be filled and help us in these, in these little things that we can take heat and that we can have our thoughts set on things above, not on things of this earth. Help us to think on things that are true, have good report and lovely. And just want to ask for your blessing throughout the rest of the day and lead us and guide us in the name of Jesus. Amen. I have been blessed today and I'm just thankful for, to be here and, uh, the testimonies that Joe shared. And I guess if I were to make a little bit of my own, uh, this idea of, um, being faithful, he that is faithful in little is faithful in much. Um, I sometimes think of the example of driving a car. If you don't take care of the little things, uh, checking oil, checking water, um, how faithful are you going to be on the road when it's dangerous and, um, you're going to drive the speed limit or you, these are, um, as a, as a parent, I, I'm more comfort when there's a child that wants to obey and likes to obey. And if they kind of want to do their own thing and I think, well, this is really good for driving cars. Where does this lead? And there's an uncomfortable feeling. Um, I think God feels the same way when we're faithful with little things. We pick up the trash, we put our tools away. We do all these natural little things that are, don't seem to make any difference, but somehow that faithfulness reaches into eternity. Anyways, I've been blessed. Thank you. Yeah. I just want to say I was really blessed by both, both the opening and, uh, Allie, there was just one thing that really stood out to me and I, I just think it's a good, good reminder that we can really set the tone for our day with what we're meditating on in the morning. I thought that was an excellent point. Really appreciate that. And, uh, yeah, uh, Brother Tao, I really appreciated your personal testimony. It's just, I wonder if that's part of, uh, when the epistles say that we ought to be ready to give a reason for the hope that lieth within us. I, I think part of that is personal testimony. It's just, uh, it's refreshing. We need that. And, uh, thank you and God bless you. Amen. Uh, yeah, it was interesting. I didn't know the toaster said about flies and then God makes the flies, God makes wicked man. And I mean, the devil makes the flies and the devil makes everything. So you can see how a progression will go, uh, from that type of, oh, so it wasn't toaster, something like that. Well, the, the eye that sees the sparrow fall and he cares about sparrows falling. And then you say much, how much more does he care about a human being? And, uh, and when they do things, I know in, uh, Jeremiah, uh, God says to, uh, Acapulco. Okay. And, uh, uh, God says to Jeremiah, he said, uh, tell Baruch, his personal secretary, don't seek great things. Seek, just don't think great things. Seek just little things. And he speared his life. And like you said, little things, little things. And, uh, my mind just goes, well, all the little things, uh, you mentioned many of them outlay and little things. Uh, uh, Jesus said, uh, Oh, a cup of cold water is a little thing, right? But it will receive a heavenly reward. And, and the Pharisees, when he operated them in Matthew 23, you, you know, hate, not dislike mercy, justice, and love, but you neglect the little things too. The mint, the dill and the cumin and the little things are important like that. And of course I would call it a great thing. I mean, little thing, but it's a great thing in math, uh, Mark 14 about the woman that, uh, poured the perfume or anointed Jesus feet and all of the apostles, all of them were just, uh, beside themselves saying, look at this waste and all that. And someone said, well, that's a little thing, but it was expensive. And then Jesus kind of rubbed it in. And we're talking about it today. I tell you wherever the gospel is preached, what she did will be a Memorial tour. And so, you know, the little things are important. We, I mean, they are, and we can neglect them. And I appreciate it. Walter's comment about a little speeding or a little less, a little, little sort of thing. And anyway, the Lord be magnified. Little things are important, right? We just can brush them off and just seek the great things. And we're deceiving ourselves. Yeah. Thank you, tail. And, uh, Atlee, I was real encouraged by the messages today. They was talking about the mountain Ron and that guy, you know, he was crying out for help. Would he be putting his faith in, in them unrighteous people, you know, but it says unrighteous man. And so I think that's money, you know, them people were maybe like the false Christians, you know, and them, them other people crying out for help. I was like, Oh, well he's half dead. Let's just keep them over there and not talk to them. You know, he's like, help me. Then some thoughts I had and people who's being faithful and little, they're going to be faithful in much like, you know, the brothers who just kind of left everything and put their faith in the Lord, you know, like that, that went and traveled on bikes and things, um, faithful in them little things. And then when the Lord gives them more, they're going to be faithful in that. But a person maybe who's not faithful in them little things, you know, when they get a blessing or something and they don't use it the right way when they, if they were to get more, they're obviously not going to be faithful in that. So being faithful in the little things, also being faithful in the big things. So like Robert said, the little things do count. And I feel like I need to work on that more, you know, maybe if I'm not being faithful in the little things, some thoughts I had. I thought the, the point of that message kind of reminded me of what Max was saying. I can't remember. You were talking about, uh, one of the, one of the things that you saw out in Springfield this last week. And, and, uh, it was somebody, somebody who was out drinking with his buddies or was one of the homeless people or something. And they, uh, you know, it's, it's funny. You're, you're fine. You're all, you're all good. And everything's, everything's joyous and happy until something starts going wrong. And then you're like, you're like the leper, you know, if you're, if you're the one that is bringing the party down or bringing the group down, then, then they don't want anything to do with you. So I, that's what I kind of thought. Like, like it was, it was more of a connection to like, worldly people and the way that they will behave or, or treat you, especially if you need help. And that was, that was something else I was, I was also considering. So, uh, people contemplating, um, whether or not to, to help somebody on the street because they don't know whether or not they're, they're actually in need or whether or not they're a beggar, uh, and just panhandling for their living. And, uh, this, this one woman I was watching on YouTube said, like, it's like, don't help them. Like by any means, don't help them. Like you're, you're hindering them. And in some cases that might be true, but like, we don't, we don't ever really know like the full story of a person's situation. And if we just assume, assume the worst, then, then we're certainly not going to help them. So anyways, that was my thoughts on that matter. Commenting on your thoughts, Rob, and I think, uh, reading that book and I gave it to brother Max on George Foreman there, but, uh, it was something like the prodigal son. When the prodigal son was in the pig pen, you don't get the money. I don't have the time. He, he didn't, he didn't have any friends when he was broke. And I noticed when Foreman, and this would go along with tails thing, when he was in the top of the mountain at one time, but then he lost the fight to Muhammad Ali and all the celebrities that were really close to him before. They didn't want to have anything to do with him anymore. He wasn't famous. He was a loser. Now he lost the, uh, he lost the heavyweight championship. So, so Foreman wasn't, he wasn't, uh, popular and especially losing to a Muslim because George Foreman was a professed Christian, but he did say after that fight and, you know, I, you've heard it, Rob and Joseph, I keep repeating it, but after, when he lost the fight to Muhammad Ali, he, uh, he, he had joy and he started kissing a little, his trainer, the little white Irish guy, kissed him in the mouth. He said, well, you're happy about rejoicing. We lost 5 million. He says, no, but I'm wearing the crown. I'm wearing the crown of Jesus. And that's all I care about. And so that was his, one of his experiences that he became a professed Christian, but he says, I'm wearing the crown of Jesus. And I don't by any ways, encourage boxing or the things about him, but it was, it was amazing how he said that, you know, and he was, he was ecstatic and we should be ecstatic too. It's a lot to magnify. And they were playing some game like kickball or, or, uh, something like that. And I remember, I remember he said to them, like, he's like, just remember the winner loses. Then Emmett was like, no, if we win, we're going to win. It's one of my favorite memories from, from there. Yeah. I just want to say thanks for the messages and comments. It's always a blessing. I just wanted to say that it was refreshing and, um, uh, such a blessing to see everyone's faces this morning and to be with y'all. We wish we could be with y'all. Really loves seeing y'all. What a blessing. So we love you. I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will, I will Send forth to us new and far-fueled humble powers, we communion of divine. Yet we know that He has caught us at sea of His suffering. We here show Him death and war, through His ransomed destiny. So with joy we come together, sitting round Him side by side, and in joy a little more days of our days where He abides. Bound and goodly are we in the institution of our King, who steadfastly lifts up his love to just goodness that I bring. Hear ye now His word commanding, bring ye of it one and all. Worthy be when we assume we're outside of the sheepfold walls. Then O Lord, assemble with us, binding hearts with love's strong cord. And in loving one another, through our love for You, O Lord. Brother watching out for brother, each the other for his good. Loving as our Master loves us, this is truly brotherhood. 46 O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! 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O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O night divine! O earthly father, lead us now and evermore. ======================================================================== Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/_tUu_rrBFW8.mp4 Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/atlee-yoder/faithful-in-the-little-things/ ========================================================================