Encouragement

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Have you ever thanked someone for a favor and heard the reply, “It’s the least I can do”? Maybe it’s just me, but doesn’t that sound a bit insulting? That ranks up there with “I was going to buy you a (fill in the blank) for your birthday, but I decided against it.” Then why tell me? I know, “It’s the thought that counts.”

Have you ever felt frustrated or embarrassed because you couldn’t contribute as much to a cause or situation as everyone else? Perhaps your reluctance kept you from doing anything at all.

There are a zillion excuses for not taking action when the situation calls for it, no matter what that may be. “I’m too old.” “I’m too young.” “I’m too poor.” “I’m too short.” “My family wouldn’t understand.” “I’m not smart enough.” “He’s better at this than me.” “My vote won’t count.” “No one will listen to me.” I’ve given you some good examples; you can even make up your own!

Good intentions are noble, but they don’t get the job done. Even if the results of your labors aren’t up to the standards you think they should be, you can get an “A” for effort. Few people get an “A” for intentions.

The Bible tells us about a woman who performed what seemed to be a wasteful act, but who was forever enshrined in God’s Hall of Fame because of it.

Mark 14:3–9 tells us:

“While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as 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. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’”

This humble, unnamed lady did what she could. She had nothing to offer her Lord but some perfume. Granted, it was expensive and could have been sold to help the poor. But the fact that she offered it to the Lord inflated the value of it several fold.

Notice that she did it despite the jeers of the crowd. She did it despite the potential scandal of a woman barging into someone’s house and acting so boldly toward a man, especially a rabbi. She gave in an instant what it would take her a year to replace. It may have seemed a worthless act to some, but the object of the act, Jesus Christ, sanctified it and made it worthwhile.

Many of us have borne the ridicule of unsaved family and friends who don’t understand why we donate so much time and money to the church. We are pressured to spend it on luxuries and pleasures and such. Some sanctimonious souls even suggest we should spend our “excess” resources on charities or causes. This anonymous woman knew what (or should we say, who) was important.

Moses wasn’t “too old”—he was 80 when he led Israel out of Egypt. Caleb was 85 when he conquered Hebron. Timothy was not “too young” to be a pastor (1 Timothy 4:12). The widow with two mites was not “too poor” (Mark 12:42–44). Zaccheus was not “too short” to be invited to lunch with the Lord. Jesus’ family thought he was nuts (Mark 3:21). Paul said God selects the ones who are “not smart enough” (1 Corinthians 1:26–29). We are not to compare ourselves to others (2 Corinthians 10:12). Everyone counts (1 Corinthians 12). Jeremiah and the prophets were told to speak to their people, even though “When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer” (Jeremiah 7:27). Don’t worry—God has an answer and a remedy for every excuse!

God honors those who keep their word: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—Better not to vow than to vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5). Also, God never expects more from you than He has given you: “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).

There is no honor in doing the least you can do. It is impossible to do more than you can do. When you serve the Lord to the best of your ability, at the judgment Christ may say, “You did what you could.”

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