What difference am I making? Is what I’m doing that important? If I weren’t involved, would anyone even notice?
We might entertain these thoughts from time to time about a physical job or task, or within a family or larger group. We can even have them within the body of Christ and our place in the Work.
Even though we each have been called to a grand purpose and to serve in a mighty way, humanly we can lose sight of that.
The singles in God’s Church have repeatedly heard that they are in a stage in life and position in the Church to serve in unique ways. But negative, self-centered thoughts can easily crowd in and make us wonder how effective our part is.
God’s Word helps us combat this thinking by telling us not to grow weary in well doing, and not to despise the day of small things. Jesus Christ gave this encouragement: “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).
He did not say the water had to be for the highest-ranking individual in the Church, but simply on behalf of God’s Work.Malachi’s Message, referencing this verse, says those who “support the Philadelphia standard … will be rewarded for every contribution—even for giving a cold glass of water (Matthew 10:42). God rewards every little good deed.”
Much later in His ministry, Christ promised to reward those who fed, clothed and visited Him. When those being rewarded ask how they did that, Christ will reply: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).
So the Bible is clear that God values the smallest contribution, but why? To know that answer can motivate us to keep serving—however large or small the task.
This answer also comes from Christ Himself.
The Actual Contribution
“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing” (Mark 12:41-42).
Jesus was observing, and this widow’s contribution caught His eye. He drew His disciples’ attention to it, as they probably wouldn’t have noticed otherwise: “And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (verses 43-44).
What did He mean, the “poor widow hath cast more in”? That wasn’t financially possible. Obviously Christ was not looking at the amount of her contribution. It was how much of herself she gave!
Understanding this principle is greatly motivating for all acts of service. It’s not about how much an act visibly affects the “gain” of God’s Work; what catches God’s eye is how much you have given of yourself. When you have given “all [your] living,” its impact on the bottom line doesn’t matter. You may have cast in more than anyone else!
We are all here to serve, and we must understand this vital lesson about the high value of seemingly small contributions. When it comes to God’s Work, there is no such thing as a “small” contribution or act of service!
In everything we do, what God is truly concerned about is how much we give of ourselves.
The fact is, God needs the “large” donations from the rich about as much as He needs two mites. In that sense, every human contribution is insignificant. God could raise up stones to do this Work. But if someone gives “all her living,” that attitude is invaluable to God!
Faithful in Very Little
This principle is reinforced throughout the New Testament. The parable of the pounds quotes the nobleman to his productive servants: “because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities” (Luke 19:17).
We can think a certain act of service is unimportant, “very little.” But consider the rewards in store for those who throw themselves into those opportunities!
Christ learns a lot about us by how we handle the “little things.” “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11). How we approach those “small contributions” affects how we are rewarded in the future!
Active, enthusiastic, small contributions from even a tiny group can make a huge difference. The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the importance of family unity and team spirit, and of the individual contribution to the greater whole. We each work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, and we each are given unique gifts with which to make unique contributions.
Meditate on Ephesians 4:16: “From whom [Christ] the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
The phrase “effectual working” comes from a Greek word we get the English word energy. Whatever we are doing for the Family of God, we must throw our whole being into it. We must be faithful in the “very little” that has been entrusted to us.
Gerald Flurry wrote in The New Throne of David: “God is not impressed by the person who says, ‘Well, what can I do? I’m just one person.’ If you have a strong prayer life and you follow Mr. Armstrong’s formula, you can do amazing things! You can change the world! That is what God wants all of us to learn. We are here to teach all mankind about how to build a relationship with God!”
To understand and amplify the might of your “mite,” first consider your relationship with God. That’s where each of us can begin to make a huge impact.
Ephesians 4:16 is about measuring own our part next to Christ. If each of us does that, and fulfills our parts with the utmost energy, then—no matter how small it may appear—that contributes to the growth, increase and profit of the Family.
Abundant Honor
The Apostle Paul drove this lesson home in 1 Corinthians 12: “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness” (verses 22-23). How you serve might seem feeble, yet be utterly necessary. Even if it doesn’t appear very honorable, God treats it with abundant honor.
“For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked” (verse 24). God can give great honor to a part which we might carnally undervalue.
He does this so that the body is unified, and that we “have the same care one for another” (verse 25).
Jude 22-23 show that if we are devoted to God’s Work, we all make a difference. We are helping to snatch people out of the fire of eternal death. But we can also make a difference with each other. Mr. Flurry writes in the Jude booklet: “We really can make a difference by helping those in the Church who need it. We all need help from time to time. We must be spiritual enough to make ‘a difference’ in how we deal with sinners. God’s Holy Spirit must guide us.”
God Notices
Satan tries to convince us that we are not really making any difference and that no one notices. But remember, when that widow put in those two mites, Jesus Christ noticed! And He drew the disciples’ attention to that.
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10). God notices how we work, how we serve other saints, and He promises not to forget it!
“And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (verses 11-12). Be diligent, and God says you will inherit promises!
The story of the widow’s mite shows how large a small contribution can be. It shows the principle of giving as much of yourself as possible to whatever you do.
That should motivate every one of us, and keep us from wearing out. Galatians 6:9 admonishes us: “And let us not be weary in well doing ….” The word for weary in the Greek can mean exhausted, weak and spiritless. These scriptures showing how we really can make a difference, and that God notices, should help prevent that from happening.
Verse 9 concludes, “for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” We shall reap! Maintain the right spiritual focus, and we will not tire out, and our well-doing will reap abundant fruits.
2 Corinthians 9:6 says whether we sow sparingly or bountifully, that is how we will reap. Verse 7 says “God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Verse 10 reads, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness” (English Standard Version). Whatever we contribute—though not much in what it adds—if we’ve given of ourselves, God promises to multiply it.
That makes everything we do for God’s Work important—even filling a glass of water. If you give your all to it, you are making a difference, and God notices! What a contribution that is to God’s plan. That is the might of your mite!