Saving Starfish

 

“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much.”

–Luke 16:10 (NAS)

 

There was a little boy happily skipping along the beach one afternoon. Suddenly he came upon thousands of starfish that were stranded on the sand as the tide receded. They were all doomed, because they couldn’t survive out of the water in the baking sun until the next high tide. When the boy realized this, he frantically started picking up starfish one by one and throwing them back in the water. He couldn’t just stand by while God’s creatures shriveled up and died.

 

A man walking along the beach saw the boy and hollered,“Son, what do you think you’re doing? Don’t you know there are thousands of starfish on this beach—and the beach goes on for miles? You’re wasting your time. There’s no way you can save all those starfish!”  The little boy thought for a moment. Then he turned to the man, picked up a starfish, and said,“Yeah, I know. But I can save this one!” And he heaved that little creature as far as he could into the water.

 

One “excuse” that keeps us “napping in the backseat” (see last two days) instead of vigorously serving is the defeating thought that what we can offer is too small or petty to be worth much. To that, D. L. Moody said: “A good many are kept out of the service of Christ, deprived of the luxury of working for God, because they are trying to do some great thing. Let us be willing to do little things. And let us remember that nothing is small in which God is the source.” Just ask one of those saved starfish! Likewise,  A.  T.  Robertson  wrote:  “Whatever  is  done  for God…must… be tested by three propositions: Is it work from God, as given us to do from Him; for God, as finding in Him its secret of power; and with God, as only a part of His work in which we engage as co-workers with Him?” No matter how “small” something is, it is “hardcore ministry” if it meets those criteria! And when we’re faithful in using what God has given us to carry out the little things—even something like gathering firewood on a cold day (cf. Acts 28:1-3), He’ll trust us with even more!

 

For Discussion: What is your attitude toward “small” acts of service?

 

Family Activity: Decide on a simple ministry project that you could do together as a family. You could start with something that’s an act of love (John 13:34-35), hospitality (Rom 12:13), goodness (Gal 6:10), appreciation (Col 1:3),giving (2 Cor 9:12-13),or encouragement(1 Thess 5:11). Then do it!