The late Francis Schaeffer
wrote in his book, “No Little People”:
As a Christian considers the possibility of being the Christian
glorified (a topic I discuss in True Spirituality),
often his reaction is, “I am so limited. Surely it does not matter much whether
I am walking as a creature glorified or not.” Or, to put it in another way, “It
is wonderful to be a Christian, but I am such a small person, so limited in
talents – or energy or psychological strength or knowledge – that what I do is
not really important.” The Bible, however, has quite a different emphasis: with
God there are no little people.
Setting
an example of Moses, then, he explained how God used Moses’ rod, a stick of
wood. Moses’ rod was a stick of dead wood. But with God, it had become the rod
of God. Then, he said this:
Consider the mighty ways in which God used a dead stick of
wood…Though we are limited and weak in talent, physical energy and
psychological strength, we are not less than a stick of wood. But as the rod of
Moses had to become the rod of God, so that which is me must
become the me of
God. Then I can become useful of God. The Scripture emphasizes that much can
come from little if the little is truly consecrated to God…The problem for each
of us is applying to ourselves: is Francis Schaeffer the Francis Schaeffer of
God?
He
proceeds, then, saying that Christians face with the problem of being “little
places” and some stumble at that, even after knowing that being little people
is not a problem at all for being used by God. As an example, he says:
Nowhere more than in America are Christians caught in the
twentieth-century syndrome of size. Size will show success. If I am
consecrated, they will necessarily be large quantities of people, dollars, etc.
This is not so. Not only does God not say that size and spiritual power go
together, but He even reverses this (especially in the teaching of Jesus) and
tells us to be deliberately careful not to choose a place too big for us.
In
this short essay, I cannot talk about all the examples in the Bible (especially
the teachings of Jesus) Schaeffer talked about in order to make his point. But
the gist of his points is that God works in seemingly insignificant and lowly
places. In other words, there is no “little places” in God. When those, who
think of themselves as little people in little places, commit to Christ under
his lordship, they can be used by God in challenging their generation and
changing the course of history.
The
parable of the Mustard Seed (Mk 4:30-32) also conveys the same truth Dr.
Schaeffer tries hard to espouse in the book. The parable says that a mustard
seed is the smallest seed. Although this is not literally true, yet the words,
“small as a grain of mustard seed” were a proverbial expression among the Jews,
like English idiomatic expression such as “as black as coal” or “as dry as a
bone” or “as solid as a rock”. Of course, there are smaller seeds than mustard
seed. But the Jewish people understood that the expression, “small as a grain
of mustard seed,” is used to mean that the likened object is very small and
trivial. So the parable tries to convey the utterly insignificant and slight
nature of the kingdom of God in the eyes of people through the simile of a
mustard seed that is very small.
Why
did Jesus choose this particular figure of the mustard seed in order to
describe the kingdom of God? He could have said that the kingdom of God is like
a mighty fortress or a mighty oak tree? Instead, he said that the kingdom of
God is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed. I believe, in Jesus’
mind, he wanted to emphasize the seemingly insignificant and hidden way in
which the kingdom of God operates. Unlike our common understanding, God of the
universe works in an unthinkable (and inscrutable) way. The Nativity scenes
displayed in Christmas season are so beautified as pastoral and idyllic. On the
other hand, Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born in a manger. But who would
have believed that the baby born in a stinky and filthy manger was really the
Savior of the world God had sent! Who would have believed that the one who was
powerlessly crucified by the hands of the Romans was the one who is King of
kings and Lord of lords! Even in our generation, who would believe that an
invitation from God to a small church is one hundred times worthier than that
of the White House or the Hollywood or the American Idol! Who would believe
that God considers a little Christian more importantly than any politicians or
celebrities, and that he uses him or her more strategically in changing the
course of history!
People
naturally seek great things, glamour, fame, pomp, power, luxury, and honor.
They are excited with those things and give all their hearts and souls in
seeking them. In the aforementioned book, Schaeffer talks about an imaginary
boy beginning work with a firm. He has a lowly place and is ordered around by
everyone: Do this! Do that! Then one day when the boss is out, he enters the
boss’s office, looks around carefully to see that no one is there, and then
sits down in the boss’s big chair. “Someday,” he says, “I’ll say ‘run’ and
they’ll run.” Schaeffer laments that a person does not automatically abandon
this mentality when he becomes a Christian. That mentality is so deviously,
strongly, and deeply ingrained in human minds.
Knowing
human mentality, Jesus constantly taught the mentality of the kingdom of God to
his disciples. He taught that the kingdom of God would be theirs who are poor
in spirit, and who are meek and humble, and that the kingdom of God would
belong to people like little children. But as you know very well, even Jesus’ disciples
could not shake off their inborn nature so ingrained in them and argued each
other that who is the greatest. Jesus called them and told them:
“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles
lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not
so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your
servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son
of Man did not come to be served, but serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many.” (Mk 10:42-45)
The
nature of the kingdom of God is so radically different than that of the kingdom
of this world that it is hidden and mysterious to most of people if they are
not careful to detect it. Jesus says that, even though people will see and hear
it, they will not see or understand it (Mk 4:12). Therefore, he repeatedly
emphasized the seemingly insignificant and hidden character of the kingdom of
God so that his disciples might not fail to notice or look down at it.
We,
too, may fail to notice the secret of the kingdom of God because of its
seemingly insignificant and hidden character. For example, if a pastor
understands that he or she is doing more important jobs than even the President
of the United States, he or she will give all his or her attention and heart
even in doing a seemingly menial task in his church. If a Sunday school teacher
understands that he or she is doing a very important job in the kingdom of God,
his or her perspective in doing that will completely be revolutionized. If a
worship team member understands that he or she is doing a very important task
in the kingdom of God, his or her attitude will be changed in approaching and
preparing the worship songs. If any Christian understands that God will not ignore
or forget his or her seemingly insignificant thing such as being an usher or
preparing a church lunch or cleaning the kitchen or giving a cup of cold water
to a visitor or inviting people to church, he or she will joyfully serve the
Lord without the sense of that he or she is doing a meaningless or lowly or
humble job.
In
the story of the miracle of feeding the five thousand through five loaves and
two fish, there was the disciple who brought five loaves and two fish to Jesus.
His name was Andrew. When Jesus asked his twelve disciples, “Where shall we buy
bread for these people to eat,” the disciple Jesus used was Andrew. He brought
five loaves and two fish to Jesus and even wondered how Jesus would feed the
five thousand with that. But the miracle happened when Andrew brought even this
seemingly insignificant contribution to Jesus.
Likewise,
God will not ignore our seemingly insignificant contribution in building the
kingdom of God. You may consider that your contribution for a small church like
YTCF seems so insignificant. Your coming to Sunday service or group Bible
studies or inviting people seems so small even in your own eyes. But God begins
his miraculous work of the kingdom of God through your seemingly small
obedience.
The
parable does not stop at the seemingly insignificant beginning of the kingdom
of God. Look at the rest of the parable. Although the work of the kingdom of
God seems insignificant and unimportant, the end of the kingdom of God will
appear as exceedingly glorious like the fully-grown mustard tree of which
beginning was the smallest seed. The mighty chorus “Hallelujah” from Handel’s
Messiah quotes from Revelation 11:15:
“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord,
and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.”
Daniel
also saw the same vision when he tried to interpret king Nebuchadnezzar’s
dream. He saw the vision of a rock that smashed an enormous and dazzling and
awesome statue. He told the king that God will set up a kingdom that will never
be destroyed, and that it will crush all the kingdoms of the world and it will
establish forever (Dan 2).
Who will believe that God is building his eternal and glorious and
victorious kingdom even through little people like you and me! Who will believe
that God does not despise but uses our small and unattractive contributions in
building such a mighty kingdom of God! While doing God’s work, we sometimes
lose our hearts and even doubt God because of the unattractive and
insignificant nature of the kingdom of God. Through telling this parable, Jesus
wanted his disciples to never belittle their seemingly insignificant labor for
God’s church and not to lose the vision of the consummation of the kingdom of
God. This vision of God’s kingdom may be alive in our hearts, and we never
doubt that our labor in the Lord will not be in vain, and also that what God
has in store for those who offer their small obedience will be rewarded in an
exceedingly glorious way.
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