I read a book with a group of girls over the summer called Do Hard Things. Its by these twin boys who were around 17 when they wrote it, and it’s all about how adults don’t expect enough out of teenagers and how capable teenagers of are doing amazing things for the glory of God when they get over the low expectations. If you want to learn more about the things God can use you for and help get over the idea that you can’t do anything, I strongly encourage you to read it. It’s an AWESOME book.
In the book, there was an awesome quote that, at first, just sounded beautiful. But God’s been relating more and more things back to this quote, so I wanted to share it, and some verses from His Word, to challenge you as I have been challenged.
“If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music… Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.”
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
These verses are saying exactly the same thing Dr. King is: that everything you do is important, so do it to the best of your ability. God can and will use even the little things, like math problems, texting, or taking notes in class, to His glory. No matter how seemingly small or insignificant your actions are, they are affecting and influencing someone. Your actions can bring glory to in God in this simple way: By doing them 100% and giving them your all, just because God has asked you to do them. And when you do those little, repetitive things that you could get away with not doing, God is strengthening you and preparing you to do more and bigger things for Him:
Matthew 25:21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.’”
So if it feels like God’s given you the leftover jobs, when it feels like you’re not doing anything important, if you want to do bigger things for the Kingdom of God, try being faithful in the little things. I challenge you to sweep streets today. Force those around you to take notice of your diligence. Live a life full of little excellence.
Paige Elliott-9th Grade
