I spend a lot of Sundays involved in mission efforts–Mission Emphasis Sundays in the U.S., mission reports, teaching and preaching. I spend many more Sundays in various parts of Latin America. In the average year, I talk to a lot of churches and a lot of church leaders about missions. Speaking generally, U.S. churches are tremendously blessed with financial resources. Today I am thinking about how churches are involved in missions.
As I think about how we use our blessings and how we are involved in missions, churches have several options. Most churches receive blessing after blessing from God. Some receive more than others, but all are blessed. We have to decide what we will do with those blessings. We must decide what we will do. Some do a lot with a lot; others do a little with a lot. We can do nothing with a lot; we can also do nothing with a little. We can do a little with a little; we can do a lot with a little.
A congregation of God’s people may have limited resources and think they have only a little to contribute to mission work. I remind us that God can do a lot with a little. The question is not one of quantity but one of heart. When we set our hearts on fulfilling God’s purpose in the world, God does great things with our little efforts and our little resources. The Bible is filled with stories of God doing a lot with a little—Gideon, David, a little boy with five pieces of bread and two small fish.
Regardless of how God has blessed you—with a little or with a lot, pray this day that he will in his power turn that which you willingly hand over to him into a lot! He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we have imagined, thought, or usually ask. Let us dream, think, plan, and pray!