She hath Done what She Could

by Brittany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, November 2009~Volume 9, Number 8

It has been said that there should be no neutrality in the universe, because of the admonition of Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus . . .” So we should do nothing neutrally; but, whether we are doing our schoolwork, changing a diaper, or doing household work, we should do nothing with only the aim of getting it done, but everything “for the glory of God” and “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” If we do this, then not one moment of our life will be lived in vain. By doing all in Christ’s name and for His glory, we will be living a life of nobility and greatness.

We need to do great things, but in God’s proportion. What seems great to us, may not be as important to Him as a “very trite” thing is. Jesus said, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41) Just as our love for our parents should cause us to covet even the little chances we get to serve them and show our love, so should our deep love for our heavenly Father cause us to be eager to serve Him and express our love for Him in even the simplest ways we can. Many people who desire to do great things never do because they neglect the small things. True greatness is first being faithful in the little God has given us. As Mommy says, “Doing great things is not going great places.” True greatness begins at home, and in being great in small things. We should take “whatsoever” for our daily motto, and our life will be great in everything.
   
If one’s way of doing “great things” is contradictory to God’s Word, then it is not great at all and will accomplish nothing but the works of sin and the evil one.... God wants our hearts before our hands. Many people have done great things for God, but their families have suffered from their absence. So we should pray much about God’s plan for our life, and study the Scriptures, so we can be certain we are in the very center of God’s will.
   
Back to doing great things in God’s proportion—Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus’ feet with precious ointment shortly before His crucifixion. It may have seemed like a small, humble act of kindness to Mary; indeed, it seemed like a foolish act to those around her (or at least Judas Iscariot) who thought “greater things” could have been done with the spikenard by selling it and giving the earned money to the poor. But Jesus said, “. . . Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on Me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but Me ye have not always. She hath done what she could . . . Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” (Mark 14:6–9) So what may seem as a small thing was a great thing; it would be told to all the nations! Jesus said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” When you pour a cup of water for a toddler, do you think of it as a “little thing”? Don’t any longer; for it is a great thing, if it is done in Christ’s name. And look at what Jesus said of Mary: “She hath done what she could.” So let us do what we can, being faithful in the little, for that is true greatness; and we will be doing “great things”—things much greater than we could ever imagine.