In a recent piece, sportswriter Mark Purdy is quite unimpressed by the Warriors’ recent historic 16-0 achievement. It appears the whole article is about sticking a pin to the celebratory balloon. His opening words: “Congratulations to the Warriors for going 16-0 out of the gate. Let me express my overriding sentiment about the achievement in two words: Big deal.” Then he goes on to list some other NBA team achievements that are much more significant than what the Warriors attained. He even quotes one Warrior player about how it’s all meaningless if they do not become the seasons’ champions.
Nobody really thinks that the 16-0 milestone is the achievement of a team. Most fans would agree that a second, back-to-back championship would be more valuable. But it does not mean that what the team has achieved at this point is not worth celebrating. No matter how “small” it may seem in the grand scheme of things, it still is an achievement. The team still worked hard to get hold of it. And, hey, even winning a single game is already enough reason to celebrate.
Our human tendency is to demean the little things. We prefer to focus on what is grander. In our minds, bigger is always better. We go for the “mega”-this or “mega”-that. Even within Christianity, we assume the same things. It seems that the mega-church has been elevated as the model of church life. We assume would-be church members, or even occasional attenders, are best served by big events with sophisticated programming. The size of attendance becomes the primary indicator of success.
I am not dismissing these “mega” events or models as insignificant or wrong. But we do need to remind ourselves that big does not always mean better. Also, even the little successes are worth celebrating. And we do not need to rob others of their simple joys.
Consider this: We read the book of Acts and are impressed by the thousands who join the early church with just one sermon. And we begin to think that is what matters. We forget that “there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10 HCSB).
Christian service is not about grand projects and programs. It may involve such things. But they are not what it’s about. Rather, it’s about being faithful to the Lord both in the big things and in the little things. In fact, “Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much” (Luke 16:10 HCSB). In Christ, small is significant; little is a big deal. There is no fault and no foul in celebrating even the little things.
—Keith Y. Jainga