When I was a kid, I liked jumping my bike off ramps. One day I thought, “If I set up a ramp in the side yard, then I can race down the hill beside the house, swing into the yard and hit the ramp with some real speed.” Everything was great until the bike left the ramp. That was when I noticed that I was heading straight toward the front step.
The bike landed on the front tire. With the back tire in the air, I could not stop and with all the weight on the front tire, I could not steer. Hitting the step, I jammed the end of the handlebar into my stomach so hard that I could not breathe for what seemed like several minutes.
I learned something about foresight, planning and taking care of little things that day.
The time to plan your landing is before you take off. The time to think, “Is this a good idea” or “Is this safe” is long before you are racing down the hill. After that, it is too late.
Jesus often spoke about the importance of looking after the “little things”. In Matthew 25, he tells the story of a man who called his servants together, gave each of them a sum of money and told then to put it to work until he came back. Upon his return, he called his servants to give an account of what they had done. Those who had used their money wisely heard the master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” (verse 21).
In all aspects of our lives, little things determine bigger things. The tiny decisions that we make every day, while seemingly unimportant at the time create an overall direction for our lives. Ultimately, those little details will determine where we will end up.
The trick is that the “little things” never seem very pressing or urgent. It may be tempting to think, “Ah, I have lots of time. I will do those things later”. When that happens, things like spending time with your family, spending time with God, being generous and a whole list of other “little things” get put on the back burner. However, one day it will be too late. The master returns, the opportunity passes and we are asked, “What did you do with the little, but important, things?”
Do the little things now while you still have the chance.
Once the bike is in the air, you will land where you pointed yourself.
The bike landed on the front tire. With the back tire in the air, I could not stop and with all the weight on the front tire, I could not steer. Hitting the step, I jammed the end of the handlebar into my stomach so hard that I could not breathe for what seemed like several minutes.
I learned something about foresight, planning and taking care of little things that day.
The time to plan your landing is before you take off. The time to think, “Is this a good idea” or “Is this safe” is long before you are racing down the hill. After that, it is too late.
Jesus often spoke about the importance of looking after the “little things”. In Matthew 25, he tells the story of a man who called his servants together, gave each of them a sum of money and told then to put it to work until he came back. Upon his return, he called his servants to give an account of what they had done. Those who had used their money wisely heard the master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” (verse 21).
In all aspects of our lives, little things determine bigger things. The tiny decisions that we make every day, while seemingly unimportant at the time create an overall direction for our lives. Ultimately, those little details will determine where we will end up.
The trick is that the “little things” never seem very pressing or urgent. It may be tempting to think, “Ah, I have lots of time. I will do those things later”. When that happens, things like spending time with your family, spending time with God, being generous and a whole list of other “little things” get put on the back burner. However, one day it will be too late. The master returns, the opportunity passes and we are asked, “What did you do with the little, but important, things?”
Do the little things now while you still have the chance.
Once the bike is in the air, you will land where you pointed yourself.
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