LITTLE
ONES
©
Morris E. Ruddick
“Take
heed that you do not despise one of these little ones.”
Matthew 18:10
Matthew
18 begins with Jesus' response to His disciples' question of greatness
in the Kingdom. Kingdom entrance starts with conversion coupled
with the simple trust of a child. Then Jesus illustrated greatness
in the Kingdom as conforming to the humility of a little child.
“Unless
you are converted and become as little children, you will by no
means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself
as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matt 18:3-4
Also
in Luke 25, Jesus pointed out that those who are the “least” would
be the greatest; that greatness would come not through position,
but through serving. In Matthew 18:10, still addressing the issue
of greatness, Jesus explained the importance the Father places
on “little ones;” those who are the “least,” who operate through
genuine humility, who esteem others higher than themselves.
"Take
heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say
to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father
who is in heaven.”
Matt 18:10
Jesus
described the humble ones as those to whom priority should be
given not to cause them to stumble or be despised; as their angels
are always in God's presence.
The
Dividing Asunder
The
issue bears on the employment of Kingdom power “in the world,”
without acquiescing to the way of the world. It represents the
core of societal transformation.
It
is this dynamic that makes humble believers the most vulnerable;
yet in terms of the Kingdom, the most strategic. It is why in
the Kingdom, that “greatness” is defined by a different standard.
It falls to the “least” who wield a faith that is pure.
The
beatitudes provide a still deeper glimpse into true greatness
and those whose mantle radiates the focus of God's blessing: the
lowly in spirit, the meek, those who hunger after righteousness,
the merciful, those in mourning, the peacemakers, the pure in
heart and those persecuted for their faith.
In
the world, greatness may be characterized by power exercised,
status and money. In the West, the bridge to greatness within
the Body too often seems to be in competing with the world's standard.
Yet, in wrapping up one of our latest initiatives among those
paying the cost of being persecuted for their faith, there is
clearly something more to the truth of Jesus' words of “take
heed that you do not despise one these little ones.” It
marks the fine line between these two standards.
The
Distinction Recognized by the World
When
freedom is at risk due to ones' faith; the glory of God shines
on those who choose to identify themselves with the Lord. That
identity crystallizes and becomes stronger as it delineates the
boundaries by which God's people are not like “everyone else.”
It is a cultural mantle.
In
the late 90s China recognized something significant. They discerned
the importance of the biblical foundations to the free enterprise
system. At a time when China was emerging into the world's economy;
they saw the role of the Christian ethic in Western business,
despite the departure from its roots when God was at the center.
So
it was that China wanted this “special” dimension operating in
their entrepreneurial startups. When they could have contacted
Bill Gates or IBM, they chose to ask a small, but strategic-level
Christian business association to put together a television series
on “the Western approach” to how to start a business. The TV series
that followed proved an overwhelming success and has been shown
again and again since its first viewing.
The
Impact of the Little Ones
Yet,
there is something more to this dynamic recognized by China .
It is the “something more” tied to being the head and not the
tail that we as Christians share with the Jewish people. It defines
our identity and our destiny as God's people. It is our cultural
distinctive.
This
“God-centered” cultural distinction has been wielded by the Jewish
people for centuries. It reflects their mantle as carriers of
the oracles of God. As a people, they apply God's original mandate
of dominion: they master what they are given to do.
The
Jewish people likewise know how to operate in community: they
take care of their own. Even more so, the overflow from the Torah-driven
foundations of their culture has shaped
the ethical, moral, legal, economic and social mores of Western
civilization. It is the basis of God's word through Moses
that they would be the head and not the tail; as they have been
a light to the nations through the God-centered, entrepreneurial
community model that was operated by Abraham.
On
the high side, the Jewish people represent .25 of one percent
of the world's population. In America , they are roughly two percent
of the population. Despite those odds, they have won 23 percent
of all the Noble prizes ever awarded—27 percent after 1946—after
the Holocaust destroyed a third of their numbers. Of the Fortune
100 largest companies in 2003, 15 percent of the CEOs were
Jewish. In that same year, of Fortune's list of the
twenty five most powerful people in business, 24 percent were
Jewish. Of the Forbes 400 list (2007), 31 percent were
Jewish. (Steven Pease, “The Golden Age of Jewish Achievement,”
Deucalion Press, Sonoma , 2009)
It
begins and ends with God's word to Abraham: “I will bless
you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will
bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you;
and through you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
Genesis 12:2-3
Yet,
from the stance of God's purposes, serving as the head and not
the tail is far more than the accomplishments of individuals.
That is only the by-product of the destiny that God has for His
people, as a people, in being a light to the nations. Despite
their incredible contribution as a people, again and again, Jews
have encountered Hamans and Hitlers, who not only despise them,
but are bent on their destruction. It is the spiritual dynamic
behind this cultural imperative. It is the cost of wielding the
mandate of dominion that brings the Abrahamic model to the cultures
of the earth.
The
Reality Beyond “Being Like Everyone Else”
God's
purposes pivot on this issue of “little ones” entrusted to wield
His power. It is the power of God, applied by God's people to
change the course of nations.
Jesus
underscored the dynamic of the “little ones” grasping the reality
of His power with the words, “I thank You, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise
and prudent and have revealed them to babes.” (Matt 11:25)
Jesus
prayed these words at a time when He had just ranked John the
Baptist as more than a prophet and being the greatest among those
born of women. Yet with the same breath He stated: “The one
who is least in the Kingdom is greater than he [John]” (Matt
11:11). John stood against the grain of both the religious and
political power brokers of his day and gave his life for that
stand. Yet in the Kingdom, he bore the brand of being among “the
least.” The mix in the equation to exert Kingdom power is in being
the least, or the most humble.
It
was then in this context that Jesus cursed the communities in
which John had prepared the way; the communities in which He had
ministered. Jesus cursed them for failing to grasp the significance
of His miracles. It gave focus to the issue of transformation
and the cultural response to the reality of God. It also bore
the cultural contrast of the standard Jesus used to describe Kingdom
greatness.
In
the case of Capernaum , their “success” or greatness had been
exalted to match heaven. Yet, His words were that Capernaum would
be brought down to Hades. Today, it is a shell of ruins and a
reminder of the path they missed as the “wise and prudent” of
the world whose priorities were themselves, rather than God and
others.
The
Poise of the Culture
The
other side of this equation was the observation the Egyptians
had when Joseph was a slave in Potiphar's house.
“Everyone
saw that the Lord was with Joseph and made all that He did to
prosper.” Genesis 39:2-3
The
poise of the culture to recognize the reality of God when it comes
is at the heart of the distinction between the communities Jesus
went to, who failed to receive His transforming power; and those
in Egypt who recognized and embraced the power Joseph imparted,
despite the brand of the “least” position, that he had as a slave.
So
it is today. Beyond the account of each segment of the Church
in Revelations 2 and 3 is the context of the cultures from which
they served. It conforms to current ratios in which more than
two-thirds of the world lives under; which the Psalmist refers
to as oppression, affliction (persecution) and sorrow.
The
poise of the culture is in its response to the least; the “little
ones” who genuinely bear the mantle of being blessed to be a blessing.
During
one of our venues among brethren persecuted for their faith, we
met a brother with a most remarkable story. At the time he met
the Lord, he was so poor that he didn't even own a bicycle, a
most basic mode of transportation in his culture. His first Bible
was a gift someone gave him. In simplicity, he read in Genesis
12:3 that those who blessed Israel would be blessed.
This
brother acted on that word; and along with what consistently began
as very much a widow's mite He gave to his congregation, to the
poor and to a ministry in Israel . In a matter of a couple of
months, the piecemeal work he had been doing turned into a full-time
job. He worked hard and smart; and increased his generosity. Roughly
a year later, the Lord spoke to him to start a simple business.
Not
only has his business grown and prospered far beyond his expectations;
but it has allowed him the joy of becoming a major benefactor
to enabling opportunity for others in his community. Having spent
time with this brother, I've been struck by the genuineness and
depth of his humility. Similarly, his example is marked by his
commitment to his community, to Israel ; along with the increase
that comes from the mastery and stewardship of his gifts.
God
indeed endows His own with gifts to employ. When you're under
this mantle, the natural and spiritual gifts combine exponentially;
and when developed will exceed any natural means of development.
Then when nurtured with a God-centered community context, the
potential of these gifts becomes explosive.
This
dynamic of being blessed to be a blessing is at the very foundation
of the Kingdom message that Jesus imparted and entrusted to a
small remnant of followers. Yet, until the Church as a people
gets the economic and community dimensions of God's word operating
with the spiritual, it will only be giving lip service to this
destiny we share with the Jewish people, of being the head and
not the tail.
It's
about the mandate of dominion and the model operated by Abraham.
It involves taking care of your own. As good stewards, it entails
mastery of our gifts, while overcoming the obstacles of life,
with God at the center. The path is one that only the “least”
will find.
The
pathway is the narrow one outlined by Jesus in which we bring
transformational change, as we are blessed to be a blessing. The
pathway distinguishes that fine line between what we do for God
and what we allow Him to do through us. It is operating with God's
heart, with His mantle of power that bypasses the ways of the
world. It is assuming the leadership role of servant, of being
one of the “least” who are not to be despised.
“Let
nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness
of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of
you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the
interests of others.” “For
many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even
weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose
end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory
is in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things.”
Philippians
2:3-4; 3:18-19
_________________________________________
Morris
Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God
in the marketplace. He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling;"
"Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;" and “The Heart
of a King,” which address the mobilization of business and governmental
leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings.
They are available from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other
popular outlets.
Mr.
Ruddick is also the founder of the Global Equippers Entrepreneurial
Program, which imparts hope and equips economic community builders
where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world.
To schedule a speaking engagement, sponsor a workshop, make a
donation or to get more information on how you can help, contact
Global Initiatives at 303.741.9000.
2010
Copyright Morris Ruddick - info@strategic-initiatives.org
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is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor.
Since 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has
mobilized prophetic intercessors committed to targeting strategic-level
issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For previous
posts or more information on SIGN, check: http://www.strategicintercession.org
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