Paying Attention To The Little Things

Every time you go swimming in the ocean, someone inevitable warns: “Watch out for sharks!” Of course, I always did, but I’ve rarely seen one. I’ve never heard the “bom – bom – bom” music that plays in the background when sharks come near. And it’s a good thing, because once you hear the music, it’s probably too late.

We’ve been warned to watch out for sharks, but no one has ever said to me, “Watch out for the jelly fish.” The fact is, jelly fish are far more dangerous (see jellyfish facts & pics). Each year they kill more people than sharks do. Do you ever take a walk in the park? Has anyone said, “Watch out for the bees?” Did you know that bees kill more people each year than sharks and jelly fish combined.

We tend to spend our lives worrying about the sharks (whether we ever go near the water or not), because sharks are big and scary. And we tend to ignore real threats because, by themselves, they’re not all that intimidating. Don’t let the little things in life fool you! You ignore them at your own peril. Every good marriage …. Every good employee …. Every good business succeeds because they’ve learned to pay attention to the little things.

Jesus told a story about a servant who was given some money to manage, and because he managed it well, he was rewarded by his master. The master said …. “You have been faithful in handling a small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities” (Matthew 25:21). Our greatest wins and losses in life result from our ability to master the seemingly minor details of life.

For example: Reading a few verses of Scripture and spending some time in prayer each day may not seem significant to some, but its long-term effect is revolutionary. Making the effort to bite your tongue may not seem that important, but in the long run, it could save a relationship. Giving a customer a little extra attention, might not seem like such a big deal, but it could pave the way to our next promotion.

Don’t give the sharks more attention than they deserve – especially at the cost of ignoring the jelly fish. It’s the little things that hold us back, and the little things that move us forward. They are our greatest danger and our most powerful weapon. —Roy Smalling

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets