Where's Your Fish Dinner?

​Written by: Jarrett Luckett, Executive Director at Exploit No More
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“Go big or go home.” Have you heard that phrase before? Or maybe you’ve heard this one, “Give it your all.” These sayings are usually meant to encourage someone to do something big and grand. The things that are big and grand can be appealing. Appealing because it may seem fun and exciting, it might feel good to our ego, or because the success of “going big” can be a nice pat on the back.
 
There is nothing wrong with doing seemingly big things, but big things aren’t the only thing that is needed. There is tremendous value in the small things.
 
After serving on the Advisory Board and Board of Directors, I started in my role as Executive Director in September 2016. Thus far, one of my greatest joys is being able to meet the individuals, businesses, church leaders, and foundations that support us. I’m thrilled to meet our supporters face-to-face, get to know each other, and share a few laughs. Many of these supporters give financially, and come to events (which is fantastic!), yet express a desire to do more. During these meetings, people often ask me, “What can I do?” or say, “I want to do more but I’m not sure what I can do.”
 
Have you had similar thoughts?
 
Maybe you support us financially and come to our events, but you want to do more. However, doing more doesn’t mean that you have to, “Go big, or Go home.” There are many small things that people can do! Such as, “Like” our Facebook page, share our email updates with a friend, tell colleagues about ENM, and encourage family, friends, and, colleagues to support ENM and take what they know about human trafficking to educate others.
 
Fruitful connections have been made as a result of individuals utilizing the small things that they can do.
 
In the society we live in, it can be hard for us to value the small things because what is big and visible usually holds higher value. However, that doesn’t matter to God. God can take the little that we have and do something great with it! Remember the boy with the little fish dinner? In John 6, when Jesus fed the five thousand, it was because of the five small barley loaves of bread and two small fish from the boy. When the small meal was given to Jesus, Jesus made great use out of it. What seemed small still made an impact and fed 5,000. If that small meal wasn’t valued by Jesus, then thousands of people would have gone without food.
 
Who isn’t being helped because we don’t value the small things?
 
How can we grow to value the small things? Growing in valuing the small things comes with knowing that God will honor our willingness to utilize what we have. This starts by placing our faith in God to do big things, rather than in our own ability. Let me say that again. We can value the small things when we place our faith in God’s ability to utilize what we have to do big things, rather than trusting more in our ability.
 
Going big is great! As you get to know me, you will learn that I’m a big thinker and doer. However, as we go big and give it our all, we must be careful not to trust more in our own ability than we do in God’s.

What is your fish dinner? Yours may look different than mine, but both have value. Maybe I have two fish and you have ten. Nevertheless, just like the boy, we all have a fish dinner that God can use, so let’s use it and make our community and our world a better place