The "Small" Stuff is the Big Stuff

1 Samuel 24:5, ESV

And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

In this scene, we know that Saul was hunting David in order to take his life and that he ended up relieving himself in the very cave where David and his men were hiding. David’s men were sure this was David’s chance to take Saul out, but David held to the God-given conviction that it was not his right to take out the man God had appointed—that God would do it His way in His timing.

So David decided to cut off a corner of Saul’s robe instead. 

And his heart (because he was a man after God’s heart) convicted him.

It seems like such a small thing, comparatively speaking, to cut a corner of Saul’s robe when he could have taken Saul’s life. But it obviously mattered to God. It dishonored Saul—and David knew what God’s Word said about dishonoring those whom God had appointed. 

When God calls us to higher levels of obedience, holiness, and intimacy with him, we have to resist the fleshly tendency to justify the “small stuff.” We can’t compare our convictions with those of others.

Some examples of this are thoughts like:

Why shouldn’t I watch that show—all the other Christians I know are watching that show.

Why shouldn’t I listen to that music—all the other Christians I know are listening to that music.

Why shouldn’t I do [insert your own struggle here]—all the other Christians I know do it.

We can’t compare ourselves to those around us in order to justify the “small things” when God is calling us higher. As we grow in our relationship with God, and our hearts become more and more like His, our convictions will get deeper and deeper.

And it’s always worth it.

David’s heart is what qualified him for the throne.

The depth and purpose of what God is calling us to will ALWAYS be far greater and of much more worth than whatever we have to rise above to get there.

So don’t justify the “small stuff” because the “small stuff” is “big stuff” to God—and God has “big stuff” waiting on the other side of our obedience in the “small stuff.” :)