Little is Much When God is In It

In the harvest field now ripened, there’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling to the harvest calling you.

Chorus
Little is much when God is in it! Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it, If you go in Jesus’ Name.

In the mad rush of the broad way, in the hurry and the strife,
Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy, Give to them the Word of Life.

Does the place you’re called to labor seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it, and He’ll not forget His own.

Are you laid aside from service, body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle, in the sacred place of prayer.

When the conflict here is ended and our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful, “Welcome home, My child—well done!”

There is a ministry/devotion/church that I was a part of this past summer that some of you may be aware of.  It is a ministry in Cleveland, Tennessee entitled “His Hands Extended”  and is a bi-weekly non-denominational devotion in Cleveland, Tennessee.  The name of the ministry comes from an old song entitled  “Let me touch Him.”   A line from that song says “O to be His Hands Extended.  Reaching out to the oppressed.  Let me touch Him.  Let me touch Jesus.  So that others may know and be blessed. ” (Any ministry with a hymn lyric in their name has to be good, right?)  This ministry is celebrating its 10th year in existence thi s month, and greatly ministered to me when I attended this summer.  This devotion takes place at the Life Care Garden Plaza retirement facility in Cleveland.  Three of the regular attendees are former pastors of mine, and there are also many retirees in the group as well.  Although I was probably the youngest person in the room on several occasions, they made me feel at home, and I was blessed to be able to glean some wisdom from this group of experienced people.

I was reminded of this group of people when reading the words to this hymn.  You may be familiar with the chorus of this hymn, like I was, but unaware of the verses and the great meaning found in them.  The phrase in this hymn that reminded me of some of the folks that attend the “His Hands” devotions is found in Verse 4.  The author asks a question about being tired and worn physically.  Maybe even “laid aside” from service because of an inability to physically do the things one once did in the past.  The author does, however, remind us that there is a place for each of us in the battle.  An important place.  A critical place.  A place where we can all be involved.  The sacred place of prayer.  The people that attend “His Hands” are people of prayer.  Prayer warriors.  People that understand the need to bring their requests to God, and also understand that He hears us when we pray.  I was ministered to by these group of people, and there are countless others who have been impacted by that “sacred place of prayer” on the 2nd Floor of Garden Plaza in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Couple of thoughts on the hymn:

• “Too small and little known” – Are you hard on yourself?  Do you feel that your contribution to the kingdom is too small or little known?  Are you discouraged because you haven’t seen “fruit” for your labor?  This hymn is a great reminder that God sees and knows.  Nothing occurs without His knowledge.  No good deed goes unnoticed in God’s eyes.  So I encourage you to do the little things.  Not because you are looking for recognition or adoration from men, but because you know that it makes your Father in heaven happy.  Isn’t that why we should do those “little” things anyway?

• “…great if God is in it” – What is your definition of great?  Is it success in numbers?  Is it being known acros s the country or across the world?  For those of you that have ever taught Sunday School (especially a classroom of children), you realize that you didn’t receive the appreciation you deserved.  For those of you that have donated your time or your money to helping the poor, the widow, or the orphan, you realize that those people cannot repay you for what you have given them in a material sense.  For some people, that kind of work is not “great.”  I hope you realize, though, that God looks at that differently.  He considers your investment a great work because He was in it. 

Now to the story behind this hymn.  In the early 1900’s in Canada during a bad snowstorm, a young man named Fred Suffield heard a knock at the door.  A train had stalled close to his house, and someone from the train came to his house and told Mr. Suffield that the passengers of the train were in danger of freezing to death.  Mr. Suffield went to help the people on that train find their way to his house for protection and for warmth.  (A “little” act of kindness that all of us I am sure would do).  That night, he met a young lady named Kittie.  She sent him a “thank you” note for his kindness, and they began corresponding in writing, and eventually they were married.  (A couple of “little” gestures of kindness found in thank you notes and letters).  After they were married, they were saved under the ministry of Rev. A.J. Shea – the pastor of a church in Ottawa Canada.  This couple eventually wrote the words to this hymn.  Kind of a neat story right?  Well, there’s more to the story.

One summer as a favor to their pastor, they kept the Pastor’s son George for a month.  One night while around the piano, George embarrassed himself while trying to sing along with the family.  Mrs. Suffield told the young man to try again, and that she would lower the key they were singing in to see if it made it easier for him to find the notes.  She did, and the young man sang beautifully.  He discovered a great talent he had for singing.  That young man was George Beverly Shea.  As most of you know, George Beverly Shea is famous for his bass voice, and his 50+ year ministry with Billy Graham.

Think about it.  A small act of kindness to help someone in distress results in a young man finding a wife.  The faithful weekly ministry of a pastor of a church results in a couple coming to know Christ.  An encouraging word to a young man to “try again” results in a life long of ministry to millions of people around the world.  These are testimonies of how God can=2 0take the little things (two fishes and five loaves of bread), and do something great (feed the multitude).  So I encourage you today.  Don’t get discouraged in the little things.  Whether it is a kind word.  A note of sympathy or appreciation.  A pat on the shoulder or a hug around the neck.  Your “Little” + God = “Much.”