Don't Despise Small Things

Solomon's temple was enormous and impressive, but eventually the Babylonians looted its treasures and tore it down. Years passed while Jerusalem lay in ruins until Nehemiah, Ezra, and others returned to rebuild the city and the temple.

The vision was clear but the task seemed overwhelming. Critics found fault with the builders' plans. Workers grew tired and frustrated. Political enemies threatened their safety. The task looked nearly hopeless.

Despite these hardships the builders reconstructed the city wall and laid the foundation of the temple, which was cause for celebration. The people shouted and sang loud praise to the Lord accompanied by trumpets and cymbals. "But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy" (Ezra 3:12).

Why did some old citizens weep? Did they cry tears of joy because after many years of exile they were finally seeing their dream come true? Did they weep because this new temple reminded them of a glorious past they couldn't reclaim? Were they sad because it looked like the new temple was going to be a lot smaller than the glorious one they remembered from their childhood?

God's prophets encouraged the people to persevere. The civil governor Zerubbabel faced daunting challenges as he set about to rebuild public life, but God promised, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it." And then came an interesting question: "Who despises the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:9, 10). To some, this new temple looked small and insignificant compared to the glory of Solomon's big, impressive temple they remembered from years past—but God still had something big in mind.

"Who despises the day of small things?" Lots of people do. We're a culture obsessed with bigness. Bacon double cheeseburgers, super-sized fries, extra large pizzas, over-sized houses, big-screen TVs. Even in the church we're enamored with the latest big leader with the latest big idea.

But sometimes great visions are born in out-of-the-way places. Sometimes world-changing dreams take shape when small deeds are done.

The Lord doesn't despise small things. Jesus fed the 5,000 with a small boy's lunch. He noticed a poor widow's small-change offering. He used a tiny mustard seed to illustrate how God's kingdom grows.

We shouldn't "despise small things." The Lord does big things through little-known people. Small churches can achieve important goals. Obscure disciples in remote corners of the earth bring healing and hope to the sick and the lost. Generations of creative young believers are rising up with the Great Commission pumping in their veins. Who knows what great things God will do through their dreams and hard work?

Solomon's glorious temple was long gone, but something better was on the horizon. The prophet Haggai proclaimed, "'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace'" (Haggai 2:9). The Messiah was coming! Eventually Jesus would teach in the new temple. Greater still, a day was coming when God's people themselves would be his temple with his Spirit dwelling in them. In that Spirit-powered era, God promised, "your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams" (Acts 2:17).

And that's no small thing.