Many years ago, I was a part of a church that was growing. An additional service was added to deal with higher attendance. To manage the anticipated rise in attendance, they began a building project. Thousands of dollars were raised and the land was purchased. Shortly thereafter, the senior pastor became ill and momentum was lost. Over time, the congregation’s size declined and over 15 years later, the land remains empty.

This is similar to what happened in the Old Testament after the Jews were relocated back to Israel. Many Jews were disappointed when they realized the second temple would not be as ostentatious as Solomon’s Temple. To them, bigger is better and more beautiful meant better. They had to learn an important lesson.

In Zechariah 4:8-14, we read, “Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said. So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”

God is not concerned with what is bigger and more beautiful but rather about what is right. That is why He askes, “Who dares despise the day of small things…” God expects us to be faithful in small things, which enables Him to perform great things in our lives. God’s way of doing things often starts off small, but the results end up big. The rebuilding of the Temple was a small effort by a small group of people, but its consequences were important.

Although the second Temple was smaller and not as beautiful as that of Solomon, it was more important because the people had a central place of worship after all their years of exile. This is why we should not think little of small things. The two olive trees in verse 11 refer to the high priest (Joshua) and the governor (governor). Here we see that both the king and the priesthood served God. Politics and religion in some ways cannot be separated from each other. Where people are present, both exist as well. Just like Joshua and Zerubbabel, we are servants of the Lord which require us to be faithful to God in everything we do, even in the small things. Who knows, it might just be the small things that God surprises us.

In Luke 19, we read the story of the king who had to leave his country for a time. He gave his servants some money to invest for him. When he came back, he rewarded each one according to the return on what they had been given. The servants who were given ten and five minas respectively were commended by the king. He tells the first, “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.”

The servant was given a little and brought in a good return and the kings blessed him with much. The same result was given to the second servant who received five minas. The king was concerned about their faithfulness to his commands.

We live in a culture of bigger is best and more is better. We often forget that God desires our faithfulness and obedience rather than seeing bigger buildings and grand programs. In the end, the results are in His hands. Mother Teresa said, “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”