The penny
has been called the most despised unit of US currency. Many people will not
bother to pick up a one-cent coin if they see it lying on the ground. But some
charities are finding that pennies add up to significant sums, and that
children are generous givers. As one participant said, “Small contributions can
make a huge difference.”
The Bible
account of David and Goliath describes a seemingly insignificant person whose
confidence in God was greater than any of the powerful people around him. When
David volunteered to face the giant Goliath, King Saul said, “You are not able
to go against this Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:33).
But David had faith in the Lord who had delivered him in the past (v.37).
David did
not suffer from “the penny syndrome”—a sense of inferiority and helplessness in
the face of an overwhelming problem. If he had listened to the pessimism of
Saul or the threats of Goliath, he would have done nothing. Instead, he acted
with courage because he trusted God.
It’s easy to feel like a penny in a trillion-dollar deficit. But when we obey the Lord in every circumstance, it all adds up. Collectively, our acts of faith, large or small, make a big difference. And every penny counts.
