LITTLE ONES

LITTLE ONES

(c) 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 100largest companies in 2003, 15 percent of the CEOs were Jewish. In that same year, of Fortune'slist of the twenty five most powerful people in business, 24 percent were Jewish. Of the Forbes 400list (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
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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 - response@strategic-initiatives.org

Reproduction 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