What makes a prophet "minor"?
Usually the distinction is one of length (except that the book of Daniel is only 12 chapters long).
Usually the content of the major prophets includes prophecies concerning Israel and many nations and spans great periods of time, whereas the minor prophets often speak to one issue or have a narrower focus. Let's take a look at 4 "minor" prophets in particular.
Joel, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk.
Compare the opening verses:
"The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel." (Joel 1:1)
"The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom..." (Obadiah 1:1a)
"The oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite." (Nahum 1:1)
"The oracle which Habakkuk, the prophet, saw." (Habakkuk 1:1)
Notice: they all credit the source of what they are seeing and saying to God.
The message was from GOD.
The message they are writing down is revealed.
They are not making up words out of their own minds.
The MESSAGE is the primary focus.
The message was short.
Joel: 12 minutes
Obadiah: 4 minutes
Nahum: 8 minutes
Habakkuk: 9 minutes
And yet, Obadiah's 4-minute message about Edom is not "less" Scripture than Isaiah's or
Jeremiah's or Ezekiel's 3-1/2 hours covering years of writing which included many personal life details.
The message was enduring.
The rest of their lives of faithfully following God was not insignificant--but it was unknown. It took a lifetime of persevering endurance for ONE message
that was 4-12 minutes long...the Word of God.
There is always a subtle danger in Christian "ministry" to want to have a great accomplishment to attach our names to in order to feel satisfied with our contribution to God's work. In the end, it is not what we "do for God" that is of significance, but what He has done for us and through us. Let us then focus on faithfully persevering in following our Lord Jesus, whether in big or little things.
Should He use us over a lifetime or for a 4-minute message--that is His prerogative.
"So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, BUT GOD who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive HIS OWN REWARD according to his own labor." (I Corinthians 3:7-8)