What Can You Do?

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She did what she could. Mark 14:8a NIV

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Mark 14:3-9 NIV

While others thought this woman did a foolish thing when she poured out this very expensive perfume on Jesus head, Jesus commended her for doing so. She possessed something of value but demonstrated by her actions that she valued Jesus far more. I imagine there was a gasp in the room when she broke the jar open and began pouring it out. She may not have felt like she was in a position to do anything amazing for Jesus, but he recognized her desire to please Him and her willingness to sacrifice what she had to do so. Jesus said, “She did what she could!” Perhaps you don’t own anything that could be sold for more than a year’s wages, but are you willing to use whatever resources you have in service to the Lord?

While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” Luke 21:1-4 NLT

Just like Jesus commended the woman who anointed his head with the expensive perfume, He commends this poor widow who dropped just 2 small coins into the offering box. She too did what she could! Pleasing the Lord always involves a willing heart, and a desire to give God everything. It’s never about what we have to give.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:34-40 NLT

We don’t have the opportunity to minister to Jesus in the flesh, since He is not physically walking among us, but we are have many opportunities to alleviate the suffering of those around us. When we minister to others in His name, it’s just like ministering to Him. At least that’s the way He sees it!

Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ Luke 19:13 ESV

The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’ “‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’ “The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’ “‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’ “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’ “‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ Luke 19:16-23 NLT

The first two servants used what the king had given them in hopes to gain something more to give Him when He returned. The third servant held on to what he had been given. He didn’t even bother to deposit it in the bank so he could have at least earned a small increase to give the king! Notice the king was just as pleased with the second servant as with the first, although he only gained half as much profit. It’s not about the amount as much as it’s about the heart to serve the king. Are you willing to engage in the King’s business?  We shouldn’t hesitate to break the jar open and pour it out on Him, or to drop our last 2 coins into the box, for the goal at the end of it all is to hear Jesus say, “Well done, I clearly see you did what you could!”

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