It’s the Little Things Which Matter

I love how Scripture often describes what can influence us in a detrimental way as “little” or “small” things. There are the “little foxes” which spoil the vine in Songs of Solomon 2, there is the “little yeast” speaking of errant teaching, there is the “small rudder of a ship” in James 3 referring to the power of the tongue to do harm. All these small, little, or tiny things can potentially bring negative, even destructive outcomes, if left unchecked.

If bad attitudes, or small judgements made on someone, are left unchecked and given time to fester, these “small foxes” can wreak havoc in our thought life, impacting us, and those around us. They begin to work like the yeast through the “dough” of our thinking and lives and, like the rudder of a ship, begin to steer us in the wrong direction.

Earlier in Galatians Chapter 5, Paul writes “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.” But he then comes up with a remedy or solution encouraging us to stop attacking each other with words and criticism and to serve one another humbly in love.

For example, we can have varying opinions regarding what is happening on the world scene at present. Certain world leaders are venerated by some and vilified by others. It can be easy to get caught up in the merry-go-round of opinions and form judgemental and critical attitudes. It is not wrong to have an opinion, but we need to make sure we don’t fall into the enemy’s trap and allow it to lead to a bad attitude or destructive criticism.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 encourages us to come with petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving for all people, for kings, and all those in authority, “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness”. We can pray for our world leaders, trusting that the Lord is very much at work behind the scenes of the world stage. Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV) states that, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” God is sovereign and when we look to Him and trust Him. We can rest assured that no leader can scupper the plans of the Creator of the whole universe. David grasped this truth in his own life, letting go of what was too big for him to sort out. He writes in Psalm 131, “I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me”. So, if you are struggling with bad attitudes and what is going on in the world just now, bring it all to Him and let Him bring you peace.