Small Things Often Make a Big Impact

Thursday - May 20th

Scripture to Read Today: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

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God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;

God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

1 Corinthians 1:27

What do you think is the most dangerous animal on Earth? What animal kills more human beings each year than any other?

After seeing the movie Jaws, I thought I would never again swim or go boating in an ocean in my life. Sharks seem to bring fear to most Americans. Polls show they are the most significant reason beachgoers in the U.S. choose not to go in the water. As scary as sharks are, no other animal even gets close to Mosquitoes when it comes to killing humans.

Why are mosquitoes so dangerous? The meaning of their name seems innocuous. "Mosquitoe" is Spanish for "little fly." While sharks kill about 10 people a year worldwide, mosquitoes kill about 750,000 people per year. Mosquitoes cause diseases around the world. The worst disease, malaria, kills more than 600,000 people every year; another 200 million cases incapacitate people for days at a time. Mosquito-borne malaria threatens half of the world's population and causes billions of dollars in lost economic productivity each year.

Two thousand five hundred species of mosquito exist in the world. Except for Antarctica, they are found in every continent and region of the world. A 2014 blog post on Microsoft Founder Bill Gates' blog about the danger of mosquitoes to humans emphasized the threat of these tiny creatures: "During the peak breeding seasons, they outnumber every other animal on Earth, except termites and ants. They were responsible for tens of thousands of deaths during the construction of the Panama Canal. And they affect population patterns on a grand scale: In many malarial zones, the disease drives people inland and away from the coast, where the climate is more welcoming to mosquitoes."

It seems the impact of the mosquito on humanity should garner greater attention in our world and media. After all, sharks kill fewer than a dozen people every year, and they get a whole week on the Discovery Channel. Mosquitoes kill 50,000 times as many people as sharks do, but they do not even get Mosquito Day on Discovery!

One tiny creature can make a huge and horrible impact on humanity. Little things often make an impact far beyond their size.

More positively, God often uses the small things of this world to accomplish His eternal purposes. Throughout the Bible, God used children, animals, and even plants. In Jonah, chapter four, God used a worm to destroy a leafy plant providing shade for the rebellious prophet Jonah. He taught Jonah a lesson about attempting to be comfortable outside of God's will.

Maybe you think you are inadequate or not prepared enough for God to use you. Perhaps someone has told you that you need more education or more experience before you can serve the Lord. While education and experience can enhance our ability to serve the Lord, they are not a requirement. He uses us as we are. He may even shock others that He chose to use us for the good of others and His glory. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." Maybe you feel foolish, or perhaps you feel weak. God says He can use you!

We may feel like we are small. But, God can use any of us and all of us to make a significant impact for Him!