Abortion. Poverty. Malnutrition. Slavery. Oppression. War. Famine. Drought. AIDS. Abuse.
"What a Wonderful World," right?
When faced with any one of these tragedies, it's easy to be fired up and feel ready to hit it head on.
But where do we start?
You know, Jesus told a story about this once. Soon before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples a parable. In this parable, a man was going on a journey and entrusted his servants with money before he left. To one servant he gave five talents, to one servant he gave two talents, and to another servant he gave one talent. When he returned, he called his servants to give account for how they managed his money. The servant with the five talents and the servant with the two talents both doubled the amount that their master had entrusted to them. Interestingly, the master gave both servants the exact same compliment, even though one servant gained five talents and one servant gained two. They both were faithful stewards with what they were given, and they both heard: "'"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master"'" (Matthew 25:21, 23). The servant with the two talents wasn't responsible for the five the other servant had. He was only held accountable for the two that had been entrusted to him, and for what he did with what he was given.
Maybe we feel like we should be changing the world in big, noteworthy ways. While it is true that we could be called to do big things, we are also often called to do small things. It doesn't matter how big our works are; what matters is our faithfulness to what God has called us to do. Sometimes we may want bigger responsibilities than we have been entrusted with - but here Jesus gives encouragement. Whenever you find yourself doing something that you know is God's will (like cleaning your room) but not on your list of life goals, remember the master's words to his servants: "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."
God is sovereign over you, where you live, who you know, what you're good at, what you enjoy. He knows what righteous burden is on your heart (be it abortion in your city or slavery in Africa), because He put it there. What good work He has begun in you, He will complete. With unmatchable knowledge and perfect timing, He will guide you as you seek to magnify Him in your God-given mission and faithfully complete any tasks He has called you to do now. You can't do it alone. You can't do it all. It is a good thing you don't have to.
Believe it or not, there is no Superman or Superwoman with special powers to save the world. That is God's job. And He is doing it. And, wonder of wonders, He is using us to do it. We don't have to invent a world-saving plan. God already has one. We don't have to solve the world's problems - and we couldn't even if we tried. We are only called to be faithful where God has us, be that the halls of Congress or the halls of our own home. God multiplied the loaves and fish. He can multiply our feeble efforts in His service.
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