What Can One Life Do?
What do you treasure the most? When you measure your wealth, do you list your money in the bank, your home, car, perhaps a family heirloom passed down through the generations? Perhaps, like the woman in today’s reading, what you value most isn’t a ‘what’ at all. Perhaps, the image that flashes into your mind is that of the one who set you free from the pain and bondage of sin. For this woman, whom John names as Mary – the sister of Lazarus – in John 12, Jesus was her most prized possession. For her, the cost of the perfume couldn’t compare to what Jesus had done for her.
Though some thought Mary’s action was wasteful, Charles Spurgeon asked the question, “Is anything wasted which is all for Jesus? It might rather seem as if all would be wasted which was not given to him.” Nothing we do for the Lord is wasted. Oh friend, I wish you could all hear that with your heart today! Nothing we do for the Lord is wasted. It may feel so small and insignificant, but our God does mighty things with the smallest of gifts.
What Mary did was unexpected and misunderstood by some in the room. Yet, it stands as an everlasting memorial to honest and loving devotion of our God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Also, verses 27-28 say, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.” People may think that we are too small and insignificant to do any good or make any difference, but that isn’t the way God works. Yes, as my father always says, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease;” however, some of the most overlooked people and things make the greatest impact in our world.
My great-uncle worked for NASA in its glory days of the 1950s and 60s. He was an engineer and designed tiny parts of spacecraft. He once told my brother and I that there was a nut nicknamed “The God Nut” by himself and fellow employees. This tiny little nut could not even be seen once the craft was assembled, but if it were to be loose, a whole section of the craft would fail. Sometimes, what no one else sees matters most. What may look unimpressive compared with all the other components, may be the very thing that holds it all together.
If the Lord is our greatest treasure, nothing is too good for Him. Our life, our skills, our time, and our finances, are all at His disposal. Never think that your gift isn’t worth giving because it appears small by the world’s standards. One tiny seed grows a powerful tree that provides shade, oxygen, and a home for wildlife. One tiny act of kindness can start of ripple effect of love. One small act of pure devotion can continue to inspire others even after 2,000 years. Hold nothing back and trust the outcome to the Lord.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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