By Richard Boone
I took the car to have the tires rotated and balanced and the alignment checked and adjusted. There was the customary wait, but when I noticed that my car was being driven onto the alignment rack, I stepped outside to watch and chat as I usually do. I talked with the alignment technician.
His work was efficient and the conversation enjoyable. As he was finishing I asked, “What causes most of the problems that you have to correct?” His answer was interesting: “Failing to do the simple things (checking air pressure, regular rotation and alignment, etc.) consistently.” I saw immediate applications to faithfully serving God.
Too many times we are like Naaman or the Israelites of Ezra’s day. From a desire to do some great thing (2 Kings 5:13), we despise the little things we can do (Ezra 3:12; Hag. 2:3; Zech. 4:10). While faithfully serving God may call upon us to do great things from time to time, more frequently it is the day-to-day, routine acts of devotion and service which keep us faithful. In short, it is doing the simple things, consistently. Simple things like:
- Studying God’s word each day. There is special emphasis on this in the Scriptures (see Deut. 6:6-9; Ps. 1:1-2; Acts 17:11; etc.). This is preventive in its nature (Ps. 119:11).
- Praying to God each day. This is also emphasized in Scripture (Ps. 55:17; Dan. 6:10; Luke 18:1; Acts 3:1; 10:2-3, 30; 1 Thess. 5:17). We cannot cling to sin and pray acceptably at the same time (1 Tim. 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:10-12). Prayer will help to stop sin, or sin will stop prayer!
- Speaking to others about God each day. We are God’s instruments for teaching his word (Eph. 4:15; 2 Cor. 4:7). We must use every opportunity we have, as Dorcas did “while she was with them” (Acts 9:39).
- Doing what is right each day. What we do shines our lights as much as what we refrain from doing (Matt. 5:13-16). As Jesus did, we must go about “doing good” (Acts 10:38). “Good” works are revealed to us in God’s word (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
How can we faithfully serve God? By doing the simple things, consistently!