I saw on the news article titled “How to Sink a $3 Billion Dollar Submarine: Forgetting to Close a Hatch.” You can read it here. Its the story of an expensive strategic submarine in the Indian Navy and how it was damaged by something rather surprising: Someone forgot to close up the hatch when the submarine submerged. There’s a sense of irony that something so powerful as a 3 billion dollar sub can be destroyed with something so small due to an oversight of a little detail.
There’s a spiritual lesson here.
Little things matter.
Little things matter in the Christian life.
Attention to details matter. It matters since this is what keeps us from letting disaster happen. It matters for us to be a good steward of the precious weapon God has given us to deter and fight our enemy Satan: Scripture. We don’t want to be negligent with God’s Word in how we handle it.
LIttle things often is where major fall and failure usually begin.
Pay attention to little things. Do it right. Don’t cut corners. Check and double check things you are doing.
Also remember the principle Jesus taught: “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much” (Luke 16:10).
Sometimes when I disciple young men they have big ambition but little fruit to show for it. Rather than spend their time dreaming big all day I encourage them to be good stewards of the small thing. Remember Luke 16:10.
Great spiritual lesson here. It brings to mind the Scripture verse Song of Songs 2:15.
That’s an insightful verse for this topic of this post and I never saw that verse in that way before with the little fox! I love the iron sharpening iron thanks for that! We shouldn’t be outfoxed by the little fox amen?
Amen! God bless you .
great post… detailed and contains alot of spiritually educative truths… thanks for sharing
I have read the lessor catechism by John Owen. It was considered crucial that their youth were thoroughly doctrinaly sound in their understanding. They had to be able to correctly answer over 20 complex questions before being allowed to partake in the holy and solemn communion.
Are our children today less intelligent than they were in the 1600’s? Is it time to revisit the entire Sunday school format? Small wonder that so many are so easily led astray by college professors.
Many churches have their own library for the sheep to read. How many also have a list of books and authors teaching false doctrines?
When Aaron hammered out a golden calf for the grumbling masses, he became the role model for seeker friendly pastors.
Failing to close the hatches to any and all heretical books will sink a church as well.
I wonder how the person who left the hatch open feels. I would certainly hate to be in his shoes.
Wow what a thought Clyde! Wouldn’t want to be in his shoes. I imagine we have done something similar with the things of God that God has given us or delegated stewardship for us to oversee. In that light I’m amazed how forgiving God is. What a forgiving God we have through Jesus Christ, Amen?
Excellent short lesson! Yes, it’s the daily steps with the Lord – reading the Word and prayerful communion – that ultimately matter most. We might see them as “small” steps, but they’re fundamental to our relationship with the Lord. You’ve got me thinking of marriage also (which of course should be a type/picture of our relationship with Jesus). A husband may decide to stop telling his wife, “I love you,” because he says, “she knows that and I don’t need to keep telling her,” but that one inattention/casualness combines with others and leads to a potential “open hatch.”
That is a very good example you gave with not saying “I love you.” As I do marriage counseling I believe that often (not always, but often) the big crisis in marriage and family is often the accumulation of many small steps and decisions and counter-decisions that led to the present situation. Your “open hatch” example also makes me think of King David with his eventual adultery and murder, of how he opened that door in the beginning by enjoying his leisure a little too much by staying in Jerusalem and enjoying the view and not looking away when he’s suppose to. How we need to be on guard and make sure the hatch isn’t open!
Thanks and good illustration with how King David “cut corners” (and probably had some good-sounding rationalizations for doing so).
Great illustration
Thanks. I guess as a preacher in the back of my mind I’m always trying to keep an eye out for illustrations. How’s your writing of the devotionals going?
Thanks for taking. 6 more and I am done. They are really short, but to do them justice takes study and prayer. 250 words is difficult
A great illustration of an unchanging truth.
Thanks. How we need the grace of God to pay attention to details in what we do and how we live the Christian life! How are you doing brother David?
Love this. Great lesson. May we be faithful in the little things.
Reblogged this on a simple man of God and commented:
The minutae do matter sometimes. Do not just read the main article, here, either. Read the comments, too. Great thoughts throughout!
Daniel
When we were little, my sister and I had a saying: “That’s about as funny as a submarine with a screen door.” J.
At least they didn’t have a screen door.
Mathew 25:23
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
That verse has such huge implications. I’m so grateful that God giving grace of being merciful of allowing us to be faithful with few things first. And yet in allowing us to rule “over many things” it is something that is a reward and something that we should be joyful over. Thanks for sharing that verse RG!
My pleasure!
A song I have heard. ‘Little is much if God is in it.’ Amen
I’m going to have to look up that song late tonight after I get home teaching Bible studies. Thanks for telling me about the song!
I could use some of your bible study.:)
Great post and great spiritual insight.