Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
Have you heard of “the butterfly effect”? The Butterfly Effect is a book by Alabama native and international best-selling author, Andy Andrews. The book’s name is based on the theory, developed by American mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz, that a butterfly can flap its wings and set molecules of air in motion, which would move other molecules of air that in turn would move other molecules of air. This movement of air molecules would become so great that they would eventually be capable of starting a hurricane on the other side of the planet. Mr. Andrews concludes that, “every single thing you do matters.”
We understand this to be true in Scripture. Think about God addressing Satan about His servant Job. Think about Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount when He said “don’t fast so that you’ll be seen by men, but by your Father in heaven.” Hebrews 12 reminds us we are surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses. Are we multiplying our talents for God’s use?
I can’t think of anything that is more encouraging or more sobering than every single thing we do matters. God can use even the smallest acts, even a cup of water in His name, to accomplish His great purposes. Can you imagine the boy who brought the five loaves and two fishes to Jesus. What was the conversation like when he went back to his parents and friends? I bet he began his story … “You are not going to believe …”
There are a multitude of people in Birmingham that have come to Christ or have been influenced many times over by a small act. There is a man who was ordained into the priesthood from business and now is actually back in business. Forrest can’t even remember who brought him to our YBL banquet, but that man got him on the right path.
There is a guy in our new Concentrating on the Major’s Study that an architect brought to our banquet. He was later invited to the study by myself and a man in commercial real estate.
In one of our studies a man who had dropped out for ten years returned because of a simple invitation to come back. He realized someone cared. This is what we do: Expose a man to the gospel, get many touches on his life through other men and watch God work.
What a blessing it is to know that God can use any little thing for His Glory. He can multiply our butterfly wing efforts to accomplish a hurricane worth of results for His Kingdom. Mother Teresa was asked the question, “With so much need how do you do what you do each day?” She answered, “I try to be God’s messenger; for one person at a time.”
Who are the people you can affect? We obviously think of family, close friends and business associates, workers, employees and employers. Yet there are multiple relationships; there are hundreds even thousands of other people we come into contact with over a lifetime. There is always somebody watching. Go out and make an impact in someone’s life today – man, woman, child – remember everything we do matters.