Little

…When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel… I Samuel 15:17

LITTLE- Strong’s Hebrew # 6994, # 6996- not worthy, insignificant, small in importance or strength, low in social standing, triviality.

Several times through the Old Testament this word was used in referring to little children, a little lad, a little child, and a little maid. The majority of those times the child wasn’t named, due I suppose to their insignificance.

When I was a child times were starting to change. (You’ll know I’m old when I write this.) But, I can recall going to a few homes where the children waited until the adults had eaten, then they could eat what was left.

We were told, “Children are to be seen not heard." Whatever children had to say back then was generally not considered important.

In the New Testament when children came to Jesus He would lift them up and hold them. But, I’m sure the Apostles tried to shoo them away because they were insignificant.

But, what significance were they to Jesus?

Jesus said…”Become as a little child." Matthew 18:2-6

"…Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child , he shall not enter therein." Mark 10:15

Surely Jesus didn’t want us to become small in stature and maturity. I think He wants us to become insignificant as to our own importance, other than the fact that we are His child..

King David said, “ I am small and despised…" Psalms 119:141. He had committed adultery and murder. From reading his prayer of repentance in Psalms 51, I can’t help but believe he wasn’t referring to what others thought of him here, but of what he felt about himself.

These scriptures bring to my remembrance a time in my life when I was married to a companion who was disloyal, and unfaithful, time and again. When I faced people at church or the community who knew of his infidelities, and they mentioned my faithfulness and good attitude considering the circumstances. I would say that was how I was supposed to be. It never dawned on me that I was proud of being a faithful wife in spite of the circumstances. That God was the one who was making the difference in my life and attitude. I didn’t know my heart.

I noticed something when reading Psalms 51, David said, "…Create in me a clean heart… renew in me a right spirit… restore unto me the joy of thy salvation…" Renew and restore mean to bring back something I once had. Create means to make something I never had. Perhaps David and I were the same. Our right spirit and joy in salvation fooled us into thinking our heart was clean, too. But, God could see what we couldn’t.

"...Who maketh thee to differ from another? What hast thou that thou didst not receive?" I Corinthians 10:12-18

In our plain old daily language we would say; "Why are you acting like you’re something special? Did you create your beautiful face? Did you create that intelligent mind? Did you create your talent?"

Not only do we sometimes get puffed up for physical reasons. If someone has committed a bad sin or has a bad attitude we are probably all guilty at one time or another of saying, “I’m glad I’m not like that.”

What does Jesus say about that attitude?

Pharisee (Praying) “God I thank thee that I am not as other men are, (I can hear him now in that holier-than-thou voice) extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all I possess.”

Publican (Praying, and not even lifting his eyes to heaven.) “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Who do you think was little in his own eyes? Of course the publican was. And Jesus said he went home justified but not the other man.

"Put on therefore…humbleness of mind…" Colossians 3:12

If we are to put on humbleness of mind, what is it? Does that mean sitting in a corner not doing anything?

HUMBLENESS – Greek # 5012- This virtue, a fruit of the gospel, exists when a person through most genuine self-evaluation deems himself worthless. The humble person is not stressing his sinfulness, but his creatureliness, of absolute dependence, of possessing nothing, and of receiving all things from God.

"…And to be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves …that He may exalt you…" I Peter 5:5-6

PROUD –Greek # 5524- One who compares himself (secretly or openly) with others and lifts himself above them.

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind…" Philippians 2:3

I always thought strife was when people fought verbally or physically. But, Strong’s Concordance brings it out more personally for me.

STRIFE – Greek # 2052- Ambition, self-seeking, rivalry, self-will being an underlying idea in the word.

Sin can and does change a person. For years I’ve tried to recover my relationship with God, and become the fun-loving person with a positive outlook on life that I once was. But, now that I look at it in a different light, maybe that was the JOY OF THE LORD and HIS positive outlook reflecting through me. When people enjoyed being around me, it wasn’t me, but HIM they were drawn to.

Because of my self-will and unclean heart these situations have happened in my life. I pray that I can humble myself so HE can exalt me, so His JOY, positive outlook, and trust can be reflected through me.

Barbara Bush wrote a book;”Heart Trouble”. In it she tells me how to be humble.

1. Be teachable-Have a desire to learn more of God’s Word. II Timothy 2:15, Acts 17:11

2. Be obedient-It takes greater humility to obey than to only listen. John 14:15, Matthew 15:8

3. Be submissive-Submissive isn’t much different from obedience. Submission refers to the attitude, and obedience shows action. Submission isn’t a teeth-gritting, resentful response but a loving reverence for others. Ephesians 5:19-24, Ephesians 6:1-3

4. Be gentle-Not the aggressive confrontational attitude of the world. I Peter 3:4-5

5. Be prayerful-Prayer is an act of humility. We are admitting to God we aren’t able to make it on our own. Our pride is what keeps us from seeking God. Psalms 10:4, Zephaniah 2:3

I have said many times that I got so busy I forgot to pray. Though I didn’t say it verbally, my actions are saying, “God, I can make it on my own. I don’t need your help.” That doesn’t sound humble to me.
There have been some things God has cleansed from my heart and yet others He is still working on. If I can only see my heart as He sees it and allow Him to change me.