This one's for all the "Little People"

Published on May 01, 2007 by Brent Eldridge

I meet people all the time who feel God can’t use them.  They have been led to believe their contribution to God isn’t worth much, if anything at all.  They’re too young, too uneducated, too unknown, too small, too unusual, too shy, too serious, too goofy, too messed up, too weak, too overshadowed and/or too under-qualified.  They think they are pretty worthless and are pretty convinced God thinks of them in the same light.

So listen… nothing could be further from the truth!

In fact, a small jet-tour through the Bible reveals that the “small” and “under-qualified” are just the kind of people God tends to use most often.

Consider Joseph:  He had 11 very strong, very bright brothers.  He came from a powerful family with a very healthy history.  He was just 17 years old when God revealed to him in some dreams that he would be a great leader (Gen. 37). But before any of that would become reality, Joseph would be abandoned by his flesh and blood, sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned and (almost) forgotten.  Yet, 13 years later, he becomes one of the most powerful rulers in the world.  Washed up slave? Worthless prisoner? Some thought so.  But, not God.

Consider Moses:  A Prince turned shepherd whose story goes from riches to rags, from the mountain top to the valley.  When God hand picked Moses and revealed Himself to him in the burning bush (Ex. 3-4), Moses did everything he could to get out of the assignment.  He even expressed his inability to speak well in front of other people.  So, of all the people to lead the greatest escape from captivity in all of history, God chose this guy?  Were there no others? Couldn’t God use instead a capable, well spoken, top-drawer leader? Maybe.  But, the fact remains, He chose Moses and the rest is history.

Consider David:  A simple shepherd. So overshadowed by his brothers, his dad didn’t even bother to show him to Samuel when that prophet was looking for the new King of Israel (1 Sam. 16).  “Why would anyone want to follow David?”, Jesse must have thought.  Think of the huge giant, Goliath. Consider the small stones David planned to use to fight the Philistines most prized warrior.  Pointless? A lost cause? A lot of people were thinking that very thing.  But when God is involved, size is irrelevant.

Consider Mary:  A young, innocent nobody from nowhere.  A small speck of flesh and blood walking on the earth with nothing but a now familiar name.  Who were her parents? Were they important? Rich? Famous? Nope.  No crown on her head.  No degree hung on her wall.  Just an amazingly pure heart – and that was good enough to give birth to the King of all Creation (Matthew 1).

Consider any of Jesus’ 12 disciples:  Fishermen. Tax collectors. Unknowns. Not much to offer the King of the Universe when you look at their credentials.  They were seen by their peers and fellow countrymen as uneducated and  insignificant.  Given some of their occupations, they probably brought a nice little stench along with them wherever they went.  They didn’t exactly hit the mark for who you would expect The Savior of the World to disciple, but God sees things in people the rest of us just miss.

Consider Paul:  Could there be a worse pick? Could a guy have a more shady past?  Sure he was intelligent.  Yes, he was a fighter.  But, he was all about the wrong things and totally against Jesus.  Why would God want to use a person like that with so many others to choose from? It seems upside-down, but that’s the way God works.  The great accuser of the church became its foremost advocate.  The one who gladly watched believers die for their faith gave His life as they did and left us an example we’re still pursuing today (1 Cor. 11:1).

Consider the tax collectors:  They always had an audience with Jesus.

Consider the prostitutes:  When everyone thumbed their noses, Jesus welcomed them to dine with Him and His followers.

Consider the thief on the cross:  While being taken out of this world for his crimes, Jesus forgave Him and welcomed him into His eternal paradise.

Consider a woman who gave 2 cents to God:  He used her as a symbol of generosity.

Consider 5 loaves and 2 fish:  Jesus fed over 10,000 people and had leftovers to spare.

Consider a mustard seed:  Jesus used the smallest seed around to tell a grand story about His Kingdom.

You see, little things and little people are big when God is in control.  Everyone who desires to make an impact for God can. Nobody is useless.  The only person who can’t be used by God is the one who turns away from His call to come, abide and be used.

No dream is too small.  No plan is too lame.  If God is in it – it’s on!  When I consider the amazing opportunities  in which God has allowed me to take part, I can’t believe He would want to choose me, a nobody from nowhere, and set me out to do His work. What a privilege.

Have you ever felt you’re just not good enough? Not strong enough? Not liked enough?  Have you thrown in the towel on serving God because you feel too insignificant?  Hear me clearly: You’ve got to get over it and get on it!  God wants to use you!  He wants to take what looks like weakness to the world and turn it into full-on service for His sake.  Sure, there is risk involved.  What if you fail the first time? What if things don’t go as planned? Those things don’t matter when Jesus is Lord.  He doesn’t define “failure” as we often do.  The outcome is His to determine — our part is the means to the end; Our part is the road that leads to the outcome, no matter what it may be.

So, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate your life.  Maybe you need to really pray about how God can be using you.  If you’re willing, He is able.  It takes a deep breath and a commitment to doing things His way!  No matter where you’re coming from.  No matter what you think might keep you out of the race, God is ready to forgive your past and position you to do things you never thought would be possible.  Don’t waste one more second thinking you’re too insignificant for God to use.  The littlest of things become great when God is in it.  One small person at a time, He’s changing the world.  Are you ready to get in on it?