July 2

Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows!” So he took them, and Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” So he struck the ground three times and stopped. But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.” — 2 Kgs 13:18-19 BSB

Character reveals itself in the little things. It might seem insignificant, there in the prophet’s dying room, whether the king shot three arrows or six, yet the future success of his army depended on it. Unknowingly, he was undergoing a crucial test. His lack of enthusiasm in shooting the arrows revealed a deep flaw in his character. Once the test was done, the measure of his success in life was fixed. No doubt, he would have paid a great deal to have a second chance, once he understood what was at stake, but it was too late.

Life is full of these kinds of tests. Destinies often turn on events too small to record. Our characters are tested in the smallest things, and the outcomes shape important matters for our future. Whoever makes the most of one talent is given more. Whoever is faithful in the little things is trusted with bigger responsibilities. On the other hand, unfaithfulness in the smallest matters keeps people from greater opportunities. The simple act of picking up a pin in a merchant’s office has shaped a boy’s future. Any young person can make or break their future at any moment through small, seemingly insignificant actions.

God is continually testing us in the little things to determine if He can trust us with greater things.