I am often amused when I read obituaries in the newspaper or hear what is said at the death of someone. Whoever the deceased was, he or she was the greatest person who ever lived. There was never a person more compassionate, more loving, or more caring. This is because when someone dies, we want to say the best about him or her.

But what if the truth were told? What if someone said, “Was this person not a jerk? He squandered his life. More than a few of us in this room were ripped off by him. He was selfish. He didn’t care about others. All he cared about was himself. And quite frankly, I am kind of glad he is gone, aren’t you?”

Of course we would never say that. Instead, we might even stretch the truth about how wonderful a person was.

If someone were to sum up your life, what would they say you lived for? What will they remember you best for? That will be your legacy. Wouldn’t you like it to be honestly said of you, “This person loved God. He cared about the things of God. He really cared about other people. This person really lived for the Lord”?

The ultimate waste is to throw your life away, to squander it. Yet so many people do. What will you be remembered for?

The Psalmist wrote, “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.” (Psalm 31:14-15)

Live a life that matters. Live a life that makes a difference. Live a life for the Lord and you will never regret it.

Zechariah 4:10—For who has despised the day of small things?

I was reading in Zechariah this morning and came across this verse. I stopped and reflected on what the Spirit wanted to teach me. One quality we consistently find in the lives of the men and women that God uses is faithfulness. We read in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” And Jesus said, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10).

Right now, you may be in a place in life where nothing seems to be happening. You might be thinking, Lord, come on! Use me. Call on me. I will turn this world upside down for You. But the Lord may be saying, “You are not ready yet. I have to prepare you first.” Be faithful to do what He has set before you today to the best of your ability.

That is what Stephen did. Acts 6 tells us that his job was to serve tables. Notice the church leaders didn’t say, “Stephen, go out and do miracles and then go preach the gospel to the Sanhedrin. While you are preaching, a guy named Saul of Tarsus will hear you. He ultimately will be converted. He will be the greatest preacher in the history of the church.” Instead, Stephen waited on tables. And as the Lord found him faithful in the little things, He gave him more responsibility.

You can never be too small for God to use; only too big. We need to be faithful in what God has set before us. Because if we are not faithful in the little things, then we won’t be in the big things.