Jeremiah 45 “Do Small Things for God”

“Do Small Things for God”

Our culture celebrates successful people who achieve positions of power, influence, wealth and popularity. Such a focus on celebrities diminishes the vast majority of people who faithfully do relatively small services on which we all depend for a functioning family, community, and nation. “Do not despise the day of small things.” ().

wealth and popularity. Such a focus on celebrities diminishes the vast majority of

people who faithfully do relatively small services on which we all depend for a functioning family, community, and nation. “Do not despise the day of small things.” ().

I. Disappointed With God –

A. Baruch was the assistant to Jeremiah –

1. He served faithfully as his scribe to write down the words of Jeremiah

2. His grandfather Mahseiah was once the governor of Jerusalem

3. He was a gifted, well-educated man who once had a promising future

B. Baruch wrote the words Jeremiah dictated to him in the year 603 BC

1. He sent him to read what he wrote in the Temple –

2. Baruch obeyed and there was a great response by the leaders of the nation –

–

3. Baruch and Jeremiah had to go into hiding –

4. The king, upon hearing the prophecy of Jeremiah, burned the words of the

prophet in the fire –

5. Baruch had to rewrite the prophecy of Jeremiah –

C. As a result, Baruch complained secretly –

1. “Woe is me now!”

2. “I find no rest”

3. There was no hope of government service and of government power and wealth

Who is Baruch really complaining about? He is complaining to himself that God has disappointed him!!

II. Complaining Loses Sight of God –

A. Baruch focuses.

1. Only on his shattered hopes and dreams

2. On his personal loss of wealth and power

B. Such complaints flow from comparisons to others

1. Comparing your career success to other classmates and friends from your youth. (Facebook can be a means of promoting this despair)

youth. (Facebook can be a means of promoting this despair)

2. Comparing your appearance to others your same age

3. Desire to relive your youth – excessive reminiscence

C. Failure to see the spiritual danger of one’s nation and community –

1. Sin destroys a nation –

2. The Lord will judge the nations that forget God –

III. Do Small Things for God –

A. “Do not seek great things for yourself”

1. Your achievement is connected to Christ’s achievement in His Church –

–

2. Your achievement is very much dependent on the success of the nation. God will “bring adversity on the nation.

will “bring adversity on the nation.

B. Obedience to God in small things –

1. Whatever you do, do it to benefit others –

2. To be obedient in small things merits Jesus’ highest praise. “Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you a ruler over many things.”

Father, I Know That All My Life

Anna L. Waring, 1850

Father, I know that all my life is portioned out for me;

the changes that are sure to come, I do not fear to see.

I ask Thee for a present mind, intent on pleasing Thee.

I would not have the restless will that hurries to and fro,

Seeking for some great thing to do or secret thing to know;

I would be treated as a child, and guided where I go.

I ask Thee for the daily strength, to none that ask denied,

a mind to blend with outward life, while keeping at Thy side;

content to fill a little space, if Thou be glorified.

In service which Thy will appoints, There are no bonds for me;

my secret heart is taught "the truth" that makes Thy children "free;"

a life of self-renouncing love is one of liberty.