A couple of months ago, I needed new tires on my van. I took my two daughters with me and after the tires were replaced, the gentleman who had been helping me waited for me to buckle up my gifts in their car seats. I was trying to say goodbye, but instead, he pulled out 3 “silver” pennies.

He proceeded to tell me (and my daughters) about how in 1943, the US was in the middle of World War II and needed more copper to make shell casings and munitions. The Mint decided to pull the copper from pennies for that year and put it toward the war effort. As a result, nearly all pennies from 1943 are actually zinc-plated steel. He poked his head into my van and spoke directly to my daughters, telling them that when we do small acts of goodness, such as being kind to their sister, mom, dad, friends and telling people about Jesus, those small acts add up to something much bigger – just like pulling copper from pennies did in 1943.

This story stuck with me months after that day. Not only because it’s a great representation of how small things add up, but also because he showed me in a very tangible way that no matter what we do for our career, there’s always a way to make a Kingdom impact in the lives of others.

Similarly, we see this example in the Bible over and over again, such as:

• Genesis 39 & 40 – Joseph was in prison and interpreted the cup bearer’s dream. The cup bearer forgot him, then later remembered and Joseph was called to interpret Pharaoh’s dream.
  • He saved the kingdom and his family.
• Numbers 4:31-32 – each Merarite men had a specific frame, crossbar, post, base, etc. (piece of the Tabernacle) to carry – “Assign to each man the specific thing he is to carry”
  • Individual pieces = whole Tabernacle
• Samuel 1 – Story of Hannah being gladly obedient to God – after many years of not being able to conceive, she was continually faithful and God listened to her prayers.
  • She gave up her only son (Samuel) who would become a priest and judge and lead Israel back toward God.
• Luke 21 – Story of the poor widow who gave her 2 remaining coins as an offering
  • Jesus said that she gave more than all the others because she gave out of her poverty whereas others gave out of their wealth

The little things we do over time make a big difference – they all add up to a grand total. Our challenge is to ask ourselves if we trusting God to help us do the “next right thing” to add up to a great big thing that points to Him?

Photo credit: Annie Spratt via Unsplash