If it matters to you, It matters to Him

 

Have you ever felt like you’re bothering God by asking him for some little thing? Have you ever felt that your little request is beneath him? Do you sometimes feel that the small things don’t need to be brought before the Lord, because he’s too busy with the big things in life?

Can I encourage you that the little things matter? Nothing is too small for God. You are not bothering him when you come to him with the small stuff.

Let me remind you of a story in the Bible that records a little thing, and the story is sandwiched in between a lot of big things, and ALL of them mattered to God.

In 2 Kings chapter 6, we read an interesting story of a man and an axe head.

2 Kings 6:1-7 KJV - And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

The prophets needed a larger dwelling place and decided to do some renovations. As one of the men was felling a tree, his axe head flew off and landed in the water. He was very upset, not only because it kept him from doing his job, but also because the axe was borrowed and he didn’t want to return to the owner of the axe empty-handed.

Now, the interesting thing about this little story, is it comes right before the story of the King of Syria wanting Elisha’s head. Now this is a ‘big’ story. Something worthy of a miracle. Exciting, larger than life and God opens a servant’s eyes in order for him to see the hand of the Lord deliver God’s messenger miraculously.

And in the chapters previous to our little axe head story, we find the story of the Shunamite woman and the miracle of her son being raised back to life.

We read an amazing story of a widow whose pot of oil doesn’t run out until it has filled each and every pot she has borrowed and enabled her to sell the oil and live with her 2 sons without fear of slavery.

We also read of Naaman’s dipping in the Jordan river 7 times, for God to cure him of his leprosy.

And then, right in the middle of all these amazing, miraculous, big stories, we come to a story of an axe head.

Why? Why did God choose to put something so small and seemingly insignificant, in the Bible?

I think that it’s because he wanted to remind us that small things matter to him. He wanted to be sure that we knew, that it’s not just the big things in life that are important, but those little things that matter so much to us, matter to him.

Whether it’s a piece of treasured jewellery you can’t seem to find, or locking your keys in your car, or you’ve misplaced your phone and it’s on silent, or needing a parking space when you’re late for an appointment, or maybe a document you were working on just crashed before you could save it.

It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant it may seem, it matters to God. He knows that little things can be huge in our eyes. Those little things can matter so much to us, and if they matter to you, they matter to Him.

Sometimes, we think that God is too busy with the world’s ‘big’ problems. Poverty, wars, drought, floods, corrupt politics, persecution of Christians in foreign lands and the list goes on. Now, don’t get me wrong, those things are important, but God is never to busy to listen to your prayers for help in the little things.

And just in case you’re beginning to think that this is just my opinion, let me back it up by drawing your attention to some verses.

1 Peter 5:7 KJV - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Philippians 4:6 KJV - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Psalm 55:22 KJV - Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Did you see it in those verses? Do you get the picture that everything matters to God? The Bible tells us to cast ALL our care on him. We’re to let him know all our requests. Not just the big things, but the little things as well.

Luke 12:7 KJV - But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Isaiah 40:15 KJV - Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

In these verses we read that he even knows how many hairs we have on our heads! If that’s not small, I don’t know what is! And the sparrows. He cares about them too.

And to God, the nations are like a drop in a bucket. They’re like the little bit of dust left in the scales after something has been weighed, and with one little puff of air, it is gone.

So, in truth, nothing is too big or too small for God.

Jeremiah 32:27 KJV - Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

God can find those lost keys, that missing phone, that much needed parking space, we have only to cry out to him in faith, with a heart of thanksgiving and trust that he will hear our prayers whether large or small. And he can and will answer.

I am so glad that we can bring God the small stuff. As a child of God, I can bring anything to him. He has time for me. He is not too busy with the world’s problems to stoop down and listen to my request for something that matters to me and although I may feel like I shouldn’t bother him with it, if it concerns me, then it matters to him. I am his child after all. And what loving father doesn’t care about what concerns his children.

Bring him those little things. Don’t be afraid to ask for his help in the small matters. God doesn’t just answer big requests. He longs for his children to bring everything to him. Every. Little. Thing.

 

 

Friend, do you think the Maker and giver of life
Is far too busy to care about your trouble and strife?
He sees the sparrow that falls to the ground
And He hears the tears that don't make a sound
If you only knew how precious you are in His sight

If it matters to you, it matters to the Master
He wants to share the burdens you bear
Whisper peace when your world gets shattered
If it's your greatest joy or your deepest pain
Or you're really needing an answer
If it matters to you, it matters to the Master