I Want to Save the World - but I Need to Clean My Room

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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Your Own Little Corner

Several years ago, I had the privilege of working with a group of elementary-age children.  There was a young boy named Jonathan who was very easy to work with but not very talkative.  At one point, however, Jonathan came up to me with sparkling eyes and a smile from ear to ear.  "Guess what?" he asked me.  Jonathan didn't usually initiate conversation with me, so I was curious to hear what was so exciting to him.  "What?" I asked him.  "I walked by the Boy Scouts," he said.  "And one of them said 'Hi' to me!"

"Be imitators of me," Paul admonished the Corinthians, "as I am of Christ," (1 Corinthians 11:1).  In his next letter to the Corinthians, Paul spoke of the "area of influence God assigned to us" (2 Corinthians 10:13).  It's clear that Paul felt the Corinthians were in his area of influence, and he felt the responsibility to set a good example for them.  Not only did Paul set an example, but he also spent countless hours counseling, teaching, and praying for the Corinthian Christians.

In his 1828 dictionary, Noah Webster defined "influence" as: "Literally, a flowing in, into or on, and referring to substances spiritual or too [subtle] to be visible, like inspiration."

In 1913, a young woman named Ina Ogdon dreamed of carrying the Gospel to the unreached people of Chautauqua.  Despite Ina's intentions, her father's ill health compelled her to stay at home and serve her family there.  As she quieted her dreams of great missionary work, she learned to be content in the area of influence where God had placed her.  As a result, she penned the hymn "Brighten the Corner Where You Are":

"Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,

Do not wait to shed your light afar,
To the many duties ever near you now be true,

Brighten the corner where you are."

Brighten the corner where you are - no matter how small that corner may be.  God has placed us in these corners for a reason.  It is our responsibility to follow His will and impact those in our area of influence, no matter how small or great that area is.  We must pour ourselves - flow - into the areas God has given us.

As you look around you, who is in your area of influence?  Who looks up to you?  Who enjoys spending time with you?  There are more watching your life than you may realize.  A cartoonist once said, "You don't have to be a 'person of influence' to be influential.  In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me."

Whether you realize it or not, there are people watching you every day.  It may be neighbors or younger siblings.  Perhaps there are people in your church who look up to you.  Are you showing those around you a picture of a faithful walk with God?  Notice that Paul said, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."  Paul didn't want the Corinthians to pick up on his sinful habits or problems.  Striving to be first and foremost a follower of God, Paul sought to set a good example for those in his area of influence (see Philippians 3:12-14).  Jesus gave a very stern warning to those who misused their influence (Mark 9:42).

We all go through times where we feel wistful to be at another point, another place.  Maybe we wish for a greater audience or greater responsibility.  But you and I have been placed where we are by God.  Isn't that incredible?  The God of the universe fashioned you to be right where you are today.

I don't know if that particular Boy Scout realized the impact his simple greeting had on a little boy.  Whether the Boy Scout knew it or not, Jonathan was in his area of influence.  It didn't take much to make Jonathan's day.  If he could, Jonathan would hang on that young man's every word, and watch his every move.

We have all been given our own little corner - our own area of influence - in which to glorify God.  Who might be in your corner today?

"Here for all your talent you may surely find a need,

Here reflect the bright and Morning Star;

Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed,

Brighten the corner where you are."

Ina Ogdon

Photo Credit: Norman Rockwell, The Daily Flag