Fragments

John 6:12
“When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”

“If it is worth doing, do it right the first time.” These are the words my mother used to say to me often when I was a young man and I wasn’t treating something importantly. My mother was a stickler about making sure that every detail was cared for and that I didn’t treat situations or tasks unimportantly. My mother believed that everything I put my hand to do was important, and that I needed to treat it that way.

The verse above are the words of Jesus after feeding the five thousand. We all can appreciate the miracle of how Jesus took five loaves and bread and two small fish to feed the crowds who came to hear Him preach, but there is no doubt in my mind that the greatest part of this miracle was a result of the gathering of the fragments.

The fragments of the miracle are what filled the twelve baskets. The fragments to some were not that important. To some people, the fragments would have been gathered and thrown away, but to Jesus the fragments were important. The fragments were as much a part of the miracle as the five loaves of bread and two fish being given to feed the five thousand.

What you do with the little things of life reveal your character and your appreciation for everything that God gives you to do. It is the little things that can make or break a marriage. It is the little things that can determine whether or not a ministry is going to be blessed. It is the little things that truly determine the degree to which God can bless you. Let me point out a couple of thoughts about dealing with the fragments in life.

First, your attention to details will save you from much trouble. The little details are what most great works are made of, and your attention to them can keep you from having a mess to clean up. Those who ignore the little details of a task find themselves stressed out because they didn’t care for the fragments. Many of the problems you deal with in a job or task are the result of somebody not giving attention to details. You can remove a lot of unwanted stress in life if you will care for the details of a job or task.

Second, your care for the fragments shows your mindset towards its importance. The reason my mother wanted me to care for the details in every job is because she never wanted me to think that something that I did was unimportant. If the only thing that grabs your attention and causes you to treat things importantly are the big things, you will find yourself eventually treating the big things unimportantly. Every little detail must be important because they are important to God. The little piece of trash that you pass over on the ground should be picked up. How you treat the penny in your pocket also shows how you treat the twenty dollar bill. How you treat the closet that nobody sees shows how you will treat every detail in your life. It is the fragments that nobody wants to treat importantly is often the very details that God can use to perform a miracle through your life.

How do you treat the details and the “little things” in life? My friend, there is no little task; every task should be treated importantly. You will find that God will entrust you with bigger tasks if you will treat the little task importantly.

Author: Allen Domelle