The Oak in the Acorn

CAN YOU SEE THE OAK IN THE ACORN?

Someone once said that “Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in a seed.” 

My response to this is, why not?  Why can’t I be given the vision to see the potential of one seed?  As a child of God shouldn’t I know how to do Heaven’s math?  Wouldn’t it be a good thing to attend Jesus’ school of multiplication? 

Consider this:  Jesus stood before a hungry crowd of 5,000 plus people.  All He had were the contents of one kids’ meager lunch.  Without breaking a sweat, He gave thanks to God for His provision and then proceeded to feed the entire crowd.  Somehow, Jesus saw what others could not.  Jesus saw provision that went beyond what His immediate physical surroundings dictated.  He saw the smorgasbord in the kids’ sandwich.  The buffet in the lunch bag. 

In the 25th chapter of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus told a story about three servants who were each given a set of talents to invest.  The servant with five talents saw five more and it became a reality.  The servant with two did the same thing.  The servant with one talent lacked the vision to see what could be done with his meager talent so in fear he buried it. 

The Master in the story then rewarded the first two servants.  He said, “You were faithful with few things, I will put you in charge of many things.”  (Matthew 25:21)  Their faithfulness with little set the stage for them to be given much.  

And here is the lesson for us.  What we do with small things tells us how we will handle large things.  Our faithfulness in little prepares us for much. 

Or, to say it another way, our thankfulness in little prepares us for much.

Let’s be a people who take the one talent or two talents that we have and work them to the best of our ability.  This week let's give thanks for all we have, even if it does not appear to be much.  As we do, we will hear God say, “Well done!  You were faithful with little, you will be given much!”

Let’s summarize what this means practically for us:

#1 Let us look at the resources we have and dream about how to use them to their fullest potential for God.  And then let’s do it! 

#2 The blessings we enjoy are meant to draw us closer to Jesus.  Let’s cultivate an ever deepening sense of gratitude and love for our Savior with each answered prayer.  Jesus is the real prize. 

#3 Let’s train ourselves to see the potential in everything that happens.  A $5 bill is as good as a $50 bill if it’s given over to God.  There really is an oak in that little acorn!  Can you see it? 

God, speaking through the prophet Zechariah told us “Do not despise the day of small things.”   Just imagine what God can do as we abandon ourselves to Him!  We just need to see the potential that God sees.  Let’s not tell God how big our mountains are.  Let’s tell the mountains how big our God is!