Think Big!
Go Big or Go Home.
Put on your Big girl pants.
We admire those who have a Big Name, or reach the Big Leagues, and we envy those who get the Big Enchilada.
What if we’ve got it backwards? What if the bigger we get, the bigger we need? What if the more we have, the more we want?
All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough
Never be enough
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but it’ll never be enough…
I loved The Greatest Showman. Who doesn’t like a good underdog story? But what appealed to me most were the questions it posed: When is enough enough? When is “Big” too big? Do we really achieve a sense of significance by striving for greatness?
What if “big” is an illusion or worse yet, a delusion?
And why does Jesus say, “Become like a child”? Become small.
Jesus’ disciples were arguing amongst themselves over who would be the greatest in God’s kingdom. Who would Jesus select as Defence Minister, Finance Minister, International Affairs Minister?
The disciples believe Jesus is on the cusp of emancipating Jerusalem from Roman occupation. And I’m guessing that Peter, James and John are feeling smug about their status in the new Kingdom. They’re about to reach the big leagues. They’re imagining their big names.
Just a short time earlier, these three had been selected to hike up a mountain with Jesus where Moses and Elijah appeared for a surprise visit. Not only did these heroes of the faith appear, something ethereal occurred.
“There [Jesus] was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.”
Peter, schooled in Israel’s history would immediately make the connection to Moses on Mount Sinai because there, Moses’ face shone brightly when He met God. Just as Moses led the people out of slavery in Egypt, Jesus is about to set the people free from Rome. Surely they are about to become heroes just like Moses, Aaron and Joshua. Peter sees stars in his eyes!
James and John’s mother had already asked if her sons could have authority in Jesus’ kingdom. Witnessing this mountain top phenomenon must have also seemed a sign that their ambition would soon be reality.
To confirm their hopes, the disciples asked Jesus who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. Here’s how Jesus answered.
“He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”
Jesus repeatedly stated that in God’s kingdom, the least was the greatest. He reversed the norms of society in his day, and ours. I believe Jesus was saying your rank and status mindset has no place in God’s kingdom. Don’t strive to be like Moses or Joshua. Don’t strive to be a hero. Strive to become like this small un-named child.
Matthew Henry explains it this way. “He that humbles himself as a little child… though he may fear that he will render himself contemptible, as men of timid minds, who throw themselves out of the way of preferment, yet the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
I have a ninety year old friend named Toshi, whose father grew up in a high ranking Hindu family in India. In Hindu society, only people belonging to the highest castes have access to the best jobs and positions, while those born into the lowest caste have no option but begging.
My friend’s father declined his rank and became small when he embraced Jesus’ kingdom, for he knew he’d be rejected by his Brahmin family. He literally “rendered himself contemptible,” and threw himself “out of the way of preferment.” People like Toshi’s father are greatest in God’s kingdom.
However, most of us don’t need to grapple with Jesus statement at this extreme level. So how does Jesus mean for us to live by this principle in our social context?
I think we’ll find a clue in another of Jesus’ statements. “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
I believe Jesus is saying that in God’s kingdom, greatness has nothing to do with rank, fame or admiration. Not even great works of faith. It’s not the people who “do great things for God” that are greatest in God’s kingdom. Those who become like little children are the greatest. Those who are willing to humble themselves and do the menial tasks are the greatest. So stop comparing and competing.
Small children don’t compare what friends are wearing, or how many words they can speak, or when they took their first step. Nor do they count their steps, and compare them to their friends’ steps.
Matthew Henry goes on to say, “The humblest Christians… are great, for God overlooks heaven and earth to look on such; and certainly those are to be most respected and honoured in the church that are most humble and self-denying; for, though they least seek it, they best deserve it.”
Those who are least visible, those who are overlooked when the accolades are given; they are noticed, esteemed and honoured by God.
Like Toshi’s dad, we need to change the way we think about greatness. We need to stop thinking about greatness altogether. Greatness, as our world defines it, has no place in the social currency of God’s kingdom.
If you’ve read my bio, you know that I have a small education, a small family, nothing spectacular on my resume. In the past, this really bothered me. I’ve always aspired to higher education. I wanted more children. I regularly wish I could impress people when they ask the dreaded question, “So, what do you do?”
Through my wrestling, I’ve begun to see that I don’t need more education or bigger achievements or more children to have a place at God’s table. In fact, I’m great in God’s kingdom as I am.
Today.
Not because of anything I bring to the table, but because I’m invited to the table by the High King of heaven. I belong at his table. He’s my Dad!
I still aspire to more education. I have dreams. Big dreams. But now I understand that my achievements or lack thereof have nothing to do with my value. My aspirations are now based on the love of learning, the desire to develop my skills, to fulfill my calling. I’m no longer striving to be more worthy of my place at the table. I’m dreaming and pursuing from a foundation of contentment with my place at the table.
Being a contented child means I can look at people who are big in the eyes of our society, those with PHDs, spectacular resumes, great wealth, important jobs, a big voice, without feeling less than. Without jealousy. Without doubting my worth.
We are all children, welcome at God’s table.
Some fringe benefits to being small:
Small is freedom to dream.
Small is freedom to try something new.
Small is freedom to fail.
Small means you can lighten up. Laugh, even when you make a mistake.
Small means you can take a nap and a day off. The universe won’t fall apart if you stop working for an hour, or 24.
Small means you can play. After all, when we were little, we had play kitchens and doctor sets and police hats. Play was pretending to work. What if we pretended we were playing when we wash dishes, fold laundry, balance ledgers and write prescriptions or reports?
What if we stopped trying to prove our significance, and accepted it as a sure thing? Could we then take risks and try things that are bigger than ourselves? Could we be satisfied, content and find joy in what we already have instead of always striving for more? Could we truly celebrate our colleague’s achievement?
Could we go outside for a moment, smell the rain, see the texture and colour of the dahlias, touch the pampas grass, listen to the trees and forget about all the stuff that isn’t done yet?
All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough
My small life was never enough until I began practicing thankfulness. Now I see that “small” is a gift. “Small” means I can focus. I can go deep. I can invest wholeheartedly. I can listen. I can rest and read and laugh.
I can even dream big!
BIBLE READING
Matthew 17:1-4; 18:1-4; 11:11; 23:11; Psalm 131
PONDERING
Are there ways or times you try to prove your significance to yourself or to other people? How? When? With whom?
Do you sense yourself striving?
Does the green monster of jealousy visit or live in your headspace? Where, when do you notice it’s presence?
Are you taking yourself so seriously that you never laugh at yourself? Are you devastated by your own mistakes? Are you crushed by criticism?
How might Jesus ask you to think small?
HEADER PHOTO CREDIT: caleb-lucas-426962-unsplash
4 thoughts on “Small is Big”
Not sure why but this article makes me want to have a good cry. Maybe I have an idea, but don’t want to think about it too much, because today I “think” I don’t have time for a cry. Will have to revisit this later. Thank you so much for a GREAT article!!
Do it! The cry is so worth it! Taking time to explore the deep places in our souls is a satisfying investment. The risk is always worth the return. Courage my friend and sister!
Katherine,
Your insightful message (Small is Big) captures the essence of what it means to live an emotionally and spiritually healthy life. Your message challenges the beliefs and narrow lense from which we define our identity. If we aspired to live our lives as stated in your article, I believe we would have healthier marriages, families, and churches. Relationships would take on a different tone, a tone of harmony and intimacy rather than envy, jealousy and competition. Trusting that those who read your article can honestly become transparent and reflect and initiate the process of personal growth.
Thank you for your honest and salient message.
Phil
Thank you Phil! I believe you’re right! I have personally seen healing in my own relationships that were sabotaged by envy and competition. It is a beautiful gift to be able to wholeheartedly celebrate other people when they achieve or receive. And this can only happen when we are content and grateful, and don’t crave the place at the top.
Your comments inspire me to explore this topic more. There’s a lot more that could be mined from Jesus’ simple words, “Whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest…”