The Test of Small Things

The Proving Ground

God provides tests, and proving grounds, to help us grow. These tests reveal our hearts to ourselves, they reveal to us what we know or don’t know and what we have or don’t have. Tests prepare us to live out our full potential and are a part of advancing in life. Every season has a reason, because God’s intention is to do good for you in the end (Deuteronomy 8:16).

 

Tests are never intended to destroy you but to develop you

 

The Test of Small Things (Chapter 1)

  • The way we handle small things reveals how we handle big things 
  • Matthew 25:23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’
  • Luke 16:10-12 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is righteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s who will give you that which is your own?”
  • 3 areas of faithfulness that lead to success: faithful in small things, faithful in finances, faithful in that which belongs to another
  • If you are faithful in small, you will be faithful in big; if you are unfaithful in small, you will be unfaithful in big
  • The way you do anything is the way you do everything 

 

  • Small seeds create big trees
  • Matthew 13:31-32; in the kingdom of God, God starts with small to create big
  • The small seed of today creates the big tree of tomorrow
  • For both good and bad, small can create a big thing
  • When you do small things well, big (good) things can accumulate: exercise, eating well, reading your Bible, daily prayer
  • Likewise, when you do small things poorly, big (negative) things can accumulate
  • We want to start big, but God’s way is to start small. Start with what you have in hand and God can grow it into something great.
  • Don’t despise the small seed of today
  • Zechariah 4:10 “don’t despise the day of small beginnings”
  • Handle the small thing in your hand well today and it will grow
  • This principle can apply to any area of your life: your health, finances, skills, marriage, leadership, business
  • Every new season is built upon faithfulness in the previous season
  • The tree of tomorrow looks like a seed in your hand today 

 

Facilitating Discussion

  1. Why is your response to a “test” important as you grow and mature as a believer?
  2. How can you show yourself faithful in the small things in this season of your life?