Humble beginnings. The thought of it makes me excited. Dr. Myles Munroe, of blessed memory, once said, “Every vision has one believer first”. The definition of a humble beginning can be inferred from his statement in another way. That is, “Something great always starts little in the one who thought of it first.” A vision is what God gives every man in order to make them visionary. Without a vision, you cannot be visionary. Vision drives you, especially when you understand, appreciate and work toward it daily. However, a humble beginning is essential for the individual and the vision. Here are three reasons why this is so.
Something great always starts little in the one who thought of it first.
#1 To manage resources well
Every vision needs resources to be actualised. It might not be 1 million dollars you need. Maybe it could be just a staff like Moses had (see Exodus 4:3). Whatever is in your hands, God will use to actualise the vision He gave you. However, as a principle, God does not give big things to a person who cannot manage small things (see Luke 16:10). If you do not know how to manage your resources when they are small, how can you manage huge resources when the vision expands to be something great? The visionary needs humble beginnings so that he can master managing the little that he has. And then he, through Christ, can manage great resources that will come to him as the vision grows.
Time, money, people and even animals (especially for farmers) are resources God can use. But in order for you to learn to manage resources well, He will make you start small. It is for your own good.
#2 To build upon the roots of the vision
Also, God gives humble beginnings to visionary people to help them build upon the roots (foundation) of their visions. A Hyperion seed produces roots before shooting out of the soil to become one of the tallest trees on earth. What is God telling us through nature? The seedling would first need a root to absorb the necessary nutrients from the soil and to mainstay the seedling to the ground before the shoot—which will be visible to all—appears.
As a visionary person, you need to understand the vision God has given you very well. That will help you ground your faith in God to actualise the vision over time by the leadership of the Spirit. It is during the humble beginnings that God will show you the root (foundation) of the vision and how to build systems and structures to sustain and grow it. Habakkuk 2:2 advises that you must write your divine vision down.
If you want to build upon the roots of a vision without having a relationship with God, then forget it! Joseph knew the root of the vision of the impending economic hardships of Egypt. That is why Pharaoh appointed him to oversee it (see Genesis 41:39). This is because he had a relationship with God and had humble beginnings from being a manager of Potiphar’s house (see Genesis 39:6). Learn from this and be faithful at wherever you are, and God will lift you.
It is during the humble beginnings that God will show you the root (foundation) of the vision and how to build systems and structures to sustain and grow it.
#3 To learn to depend on God
The last of the three reasons why God gives humble beginnings to visionaries is to help them learn to trust and depend on Him. Without Him, the vision He gave you will not be actualised. He gave you the vision; He will bring it to a good end (Philippians 1:6). You need Him.
It is common for you to experience struggles during your humble beginnings in actualising the vision God has given you. In those moments when God shows Himself to be faithful, you will learn to depend on Him. Wait on God, acknowledge His Word and follow His leading.
You’re a blessing.