COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

THE DECEPTIVE APPEAL OF "BIG BEGINNINGS"

For who has despised the day of small beginnings? For these seven rejoice to see the plum line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth. - Zechariah 4:10

The watchful eyes of the Lord are upon whatever we do to see that we are aligned with His precepts, as well as His guidance. Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing; and He only did it according to His Father’s ways.

This principle will inevitably slow down the ambitious ~ even those who are ambitious to please God. We cannot please Him by violating His ways in order to accomplish His purpose!

So many are eager to do something BIG! Some want to do something BIG for themselves; some want to do something BIG for themselves so that they might do something BIG for God; still others are only interested in doing something BIG for God. So much time can be redeemed by beginning BIG!

But, God’s ways are higher than man’s ways, and His thoughts higher than man’s thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). We have been raised up and seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6) so that we might come to know, understand and operate according to His higher ways, as He directs us (Isaiah 55:6-7).

I’ve watched as the ambitious plans of man, both in the natural and spiritual arenas, have failed to bear fruit. I’m not challenging intent or sincerity. I’m not challenging the fact that God wants us to do great exploits. He will not frustrate His own plans. But, ~ because He loves us ~ He will frustrate our plans, in order to guide us back to Him. Here’s the truth:

He who is faithful in what is least (little) is faithful also in much (BIG). - Luke 16:10

When I hear someone’s bark ~ and realize that his bark is bigger than his bite ~ I know that God cannot get behind him in his endeavor. It is a man’s endeavor, not God’s, because it is not according to His way. When we get ahead of God, He does not get behind us!

Don’t over-advertise! Unless the Lord builds ~ we labor in vain. Don’t bark! Just wait to bite when God puts His teeth into what He has given you to do. So many try to begin big, only to fail. What is important is ending well. Choose God’s way. Begin small.