No Job Too Small

We have all seen this expression. It could be in an ad or on the side of a truck: “No job too big or too small.” This is showing that this person is ready to do whatever you need done; they just want to work.

Obadiah

In the Old Testament, there is a short book – only one chapter – written by a prophet named Obadiah. It has a very simple message of God’s deliverance of His people and judgment on those who were hurting them.
We know nothing about this prophet. We don’t know where he lived. We don’t know when he lived. We don’t know if he was rich or poor, whether he was married, whether he had children. We do know that he had a message from God and He was faithful to deliver it.

Obadiah’s Purpose

Some people might question why Obadiah had to write this book. We have many other prophets who told almost exactly the same message. Why did we need one more? There is no way for us to know exactly what was happening at that time and why they needed this particular man to be sent to them. We do know that God had a purpose and a plan for Obadiah and His people.
We also know that we can receive encouragement from this book even today. God always takes care of His people. In the end, the righteous and unrighteous will be judged justly.

Business Efficiency

In business, the way to make money is to minimize your expenses and maximize your income. To some extent, every business has to do this, so that they will have money to pay rent, pay their employees, etc. If all they care about is making money (and that should not be all they care about), they will focus on what makes them the most money.
Suppose a business had a customer who comes in once every year or two and buys something for $3.00, and it costs the company $2.00 to make it. That business only makes $1.00 every year or two from this customer.
Then, suppose that the same business had a customer who came in every day and bought another item for $300.00, and it only costs the company $20.00 to make it. The business makes $280.00 every time this customer comes in.
Which customer do you think will get more attention? The business will probably also ask the $300.00 customer if they have any friends who would like to come in. The business might even tell the $3.00 client that they don’t want them to come in anymore; they only want to focus on the rich people.

God’s Economy

God does not operate that way. He already owns everything. What is valuable to God is usually different than what most people consider valuable.

Jesus had many people following Him. Everywhere He went, many people came to hear Him and see Him heal people and cast out demons. People were coming from all over Israel, and even other countries.

The Individual

Jesus always focused on reaching people, whether in crowds or just one person. He cared nothing about fame and fortune. He wanted to reach people who were hurting, people who were suffering, people that society did not consider valuable, much like our $3.00 customer earlier.

Judea was in the southern part of Israel, and Galilee was in the north. Samaria was in between. There was a lot of hatred and racism between the Jews and the Samaritans. “Righteous” Jews, when they had to travel between the northern and southern regions, would usually go around Samaria, so they could avoid becoming “unclean” by being around the Samaritans.
In verse 4, we see that Jesus “had to pass through Samaria.” He knew that someone was there who needed Him, and He wanted to reach her. He “had to pass through Samaria” to reach her.
Jesus and His disciples came to this town, Sychar, in Samaria, around noon (the sixth hour). He was hot and thirsty.

Breaking Barriers

In that day, there was no indoor plumbing, except maybe for the king and very rich people. Usually, the women would go early in the morning (when it was cooler) to the town’s well, so they could get water for the day. This woman came in the hottest part of the day, so she was probably an outcast in that town.
Jews would typically not even speak with Samaritans, because they felt that they were “unclean.” In addition, Jewish men would not want to speak alone with a woman, especially a Samaritan woman, because someone might think they were being immoral.
Jesus did not care about the traditions or prejudices of people. He wanted everyone to experience true, abundant life – the life that only He can give.

Living Water

Jesus now tells her about a supernatural, eternal gift that He has, waiting right in front of her. All she has to do is ask Him, and He will give it to her. This is just like today – Jesus is right here, waiting to give each one of us a new, abundant life. All we have to do is ask Him.
She still thinks that He is talking about natural water, because the term “living water” was commonly used to refer to water that moved, like with a spring. At the same time, she is seeing that there seems to be something different about this man.

Never-ending Water

What Jesus had to offer was better than a never-ending, artesian well. He came to give her new life.
Jesus told her about her five husbands, and the man that she was currently living with. He told her that there is a better way to live and worship. The way that she had been taught to believe was wrong. He was there to show her a better way. He was there, because He was the better way. He was the Messiah, the Savior of the world, sitting right in front of her.

Eternal Life

Jesus brought eternal life to a town that probably never would have heard His message otherwise.
Even though he had places to be, He took two days to be with these people and give them everlasting, abundant life.
Even though He was tired and thirsty, He still took time to speak with this woman.
Even though society said that He shouldn’t talk or associate with her or any of the other Samaritans, He did not care. He wanted them to have new life, and be with Him forever.

John the Baptist

John the Baptist came just before Jesus did. Let’s look at his life a little.

Jesus had some very high praise for John, as did the average Jewish person. People heard John’s message and knew that they needed to change.

Ministry

The Old Testament prophets prophesied about John. He also had an angel announce his miraculous birth. As he ministered, though, some people did not like how he was preaching righteousness and living a godly life. This included the king and his wife, who were living in adultery. Up until this point, it looked like John was having a major impact. People were turning away from their sins and turning to God, but not everyone.

Herodias and her daughter plotted to kill John, in spite of the king’s wishes, which they were able to do. John was only thirty years old, just starting his ministry as a priest and a prophet, then he was thrown in prison and killed by evil people.

John’s entire ministry only lasted about six months.

A Wasted Life?

We see this tragedy and think what a waste this was. Why would God allow this? How much more could John had done, if only he had not been tragically murdered. What was his purpose?
When we are first introduced to John the Baptist, we see him pointing out who Jesus was.

John had to come and prepare the way, then baptize Jesus, then testify that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God. His ministry, as short as it was, had to occur before Jesus could come!

Your Purpose

It can be tempting sometimes to wonder why we were put here on this earth. Why did God create me? What is my purpose? Why does it seem that everyone else is used by God, except for me?
God has a purpose and a plan for each one of us. Just because our purpose doesn’t seem like something big to us doesn’t mean it’s not important. Just because other people resist you or try to stop you does not change the fact that you are created in the image of God – created to do great things, even if they are “small” things.

Rejoice in God that He cares and has a purpose for you, even if you or anyone else can’t see it right now.

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