The Ministry of Small Things

It has become a Christian motto: “Attempt great things for God.”

Some folks are even surprised that this saying isn’t in the Bible! As disciples of Christ, we’ve been encouraged to aim high. Go on a mission trip. Give away your fortune. Become a street evangelist.

There is something commendable about wanting to rise above the comfortable and predictable: “I want to do something big for God.” It is far better than making an idol of our personal comfort and ease. But we don’t have to be notable and do notable things. In the pursuit of meaningful service for the Lord, oftentimes the little things are the big things. I’d like to illustrate that with a reflection on pastoral ministry.

My wife and I and our family have had the burden of saying farewell to three congregations over the past twenty years. After a period of ministry in one city or another, God led our path somewhere new. The many joys of the bond between a pastor (and his family) and a congregation are replaced by the sharp pains of parting: tears, hugs, sadness—but also words of mutual love and appreciation.

Reflecting on these farewells, it has struck me that for many people, it’s the little things that stand out. The congregation wants to say thank you for the work done over the past five or eight years, and what are things they mention?

“Thanks for checking in on me.”

“Thanks for always remembering my birthday.”

“I liked how you took me out for coffee.”

“You took the time to answer our questions in Catechism class.”

“Thanks for baptizing our boys.”

“Thanks for listening.”

It doesn’t sound like much. It’s texting someone to see how they’re doing since their knee operation. It’s showing up when there’s a family crisis, and praying together, and reading a Psalm. It’s spending an hour with a young person to hear about their life. It’s putting in the work on your two sermons, and then preaching them on Sunday. It’s asking the right question on a pastoral visit.

There is nothing too exciting or extraordinary about these things. In my estimation, most of these things aren’t that hard to do. Not that I did them flawlessly, of course, or always cheerfully, but I did them consistently. Even so, don’t I want to be remembered for more?

Pastors would probably like to be appreciated for the impressive works where we felt that our skill was really on display: “Thank you for that brilliant sermon four years ago on the Prodigal Son—I’ll remember that message for the rest of my life.” Or, “It was your article on evangelism that inspired me to go to seminary to become a missionary.” It’s humbling, but it turns out that it’s not these kind of works that have the greatest impact.

You could call it “the ministry of small things.” Our apparently insignificant acts of care and our relatively minor moments of service—these are what God loves to use in order to bless and help his church.

You open Scripture and read a brief passage with someone in order to counsel them: it seems like a small thing, but it’s not.

You spend time with an elderly sister as she pours out her sorrows, mostly listening and offering a few words to encourage: it seems like a small thing, but it’s not.

You pray with a family, bringing their worries and sadnesses before the throne of God: it seems like a small thing, but it’s not.

You reach out to say hello to a lonely brother, to assure him that you’re praying for him: these seem like small things, but they’re not.

Somehow, this is what endures: the faithful ministering of Christ’s love and Christ’s Word to Christ’s people.

The “ministry of small things” is consistent with how the Bible teaches us to think about God’s kingdom. God has always been accomplishing a lot with a little. In his parable of the yeast, Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven starts with something as modest as a dash of leaven. Yeast is practically invisible, and you don’t see it working, yet as it slowly permeates the dough, it has a formidable impact (Matt 13:22). Our little works, patiently and consistently done, can bring about something big.

Even Jesus himself didn’t look like much (Isa 53:2), and his gospel doesn’t sound like much (1 Cor 1:18), nor are most of his people remarkable by worldly standards (1 Cor 1:26). Yet God has changed the course of world history through the person and work of his Son, and even through the words and deeds of his church.

This Scriptural pattern gives a different outlook on our work. God calls us to faithfulness in whatever labours He has assigned, whether apparently significant or seemingly small. In fact, it’s our diligence in the small things that speaks to our readiness to take on something more; Jesus said, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much” (Luke 16:10).

So what should we learn from this? There are implications here for each of us, whether pastors or not.

But let me start with pastors. They have a ministry among the Lord’s people. Sometimes our ministry is marked by profound joy and satisfaction, and other times this work knows untold stress, frustration, and sadness. You don’t know what to say in this visit, the next step isn’t at all clear, and you feel utterly inadequate. But instead of feeling the pressure to say it perfectly, or trying to meet a person’s deepest needs, be sure that God can definitely use something little. You might only drop in for a half-hour visit and pray together, but you can have confidence that God will use this. If you have read the word of Christ, shared the love of Christ, something good can happen.

Others might not have a “ministry” in the normal use of the term, but you do have a task from the Lord. He has put you where you are—at school, in your church, in your home, in your neighborhood and workplace—for the purpose of worshiping and serving. Your calling is to love God with your whole heart, and to love other people sincerely. So show up. Work well. Take the time to listen to someone and to love someone. See where God is working.

The regular rounds of life aren’t very exciting. Most of our days are filled with the mundane: another tedious work meeting, more laundry to fold, four more hours volunteering, another two dozen children to teach about Confederation. It’s a lot of little things, but this is what God has put in front of us today. By doing it with all our heart, we show that it’s the Lord Christ we are serving.

It’s an act of faith, believing He can use our time and love and service for a purpose that is bigger than us—believing, and then going out and doing.

Through our ministry of small things, God can do something great.