Years ago Chinese farmers decided they would eat the good big potatoes and just use the small
ones for seed. A new understanding of the laws of life came to them when through the years
during which they kept up this practice, nature reduced all their potatoes to the size of marbles!
These farmers learned through bitter experience that they couldn't keep the best things in life for
themselves and use the leftovers for seed. The laws of life decreed that the harvest would reflect
the planting. But you know, planting small potatoes is still a common practice with a lot of us.
Too many of us take all the big things of life for ourselves and only plant the leftovers. We expect
that by some crazy twist of the laws of nature our selfishness will be rewarded with blessings. We
must learn that we can't always eat the big potatoes and still keep having them. Planting small
potatoes simply means that is all we can expect in return. This law applies in family relationships,
friendships, on the job, in community affairs, in politics and everywhere else. This law applies
especially in our service to God. We succeed when we sacrifice. Whether it is in attending
worship services, teaching others about God, visiting the sick, or giving, the big potatoes given to
God will result in more blessings than we can even dream about. In Malachi 3:6-18 God is
teaching the Israelites the law of small potatoes. In verse 10 we read, "And try Me now in this,
says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you
such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." The greatest blessing of all, of
course, is that of eternal life. We can have the hope of heaven if we choose to give our life to
God, rather than keep it for ourselves. Jesus said, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matt. 16:25).
Some time ago, Paul Harvey reported of a 73-year old man who had been pinned beneath his farm tractor for four days and nights in driving rain and a terrible storm. Concerned friends went to see about him just in time. He survived the ordeal, but lost a leg below the knee. Several newspapers picked up on the story and have centered upon the amazing fact that a 73-year old man could live after being pinned beneath a tractor for four days and nights in such bad weather, and that is something to be amazed about. However, what is even more amazing is the reason his friends were caused to check on him. One fellow said it best: "He missed prayer meeting on Wednesday night!" That's all? Yes! Simply missing one worship service compelled his friends to check on him. This man's faithfulness to the Lord saved his life. Going to Wednesday night worship services won't necessarily save your life, but it may very well save your soul, and that's what God is concerned about. Hebrews 10:24-27 says, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."