August 7

Don’t neglect the small duties

“If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?” (2 Kings 5:13).
“Thou hast been faithful in a very little” (Luke 19:17).

We think that conspicuous events, striking experiences, exalted moments have most to do with our character and capacity. We are wrong. Common days, monotonous hours, wearisome paths, plain old toils and everyday clothes tell the real story. Good habits are not made on birthdays, nor Christian character at the New Year. The workshop of character is everyday life. The uneventful and commonplace hour is where the battle is won or lost.

Little by little all tasks are done;
So are the crowns of the faithful won,
So is Heaven in our hearts begun.
With work and with weeping, with laughter and play,
Little by little, the longest day
And the longest life are passing away—
Passing without return, while so
The new years come, and the old years go.

Who neglects a thing which he suspects he ought to do, because it seems to him too small a thing, is deceiving himself. It is not too little, but too great for him, that he doeth it not.
—E. P.

“Master, where shall I work today?”
(My love flowed warm and free);
He pointed out a tiny plot,
And said: “Tend that for me.”
I answered quickly, “Oh, no, not there;
Not anyone could see,
No matter how well my task was done—
Not that little place for me.”
His voice when He spoke—it was not stern.
He answered me tenderly.
“Little one, search that heart of thine,
Are you working for them or Me?
Nazareth was just a little place,
And so was Galilee.”

Read full article...