Doing What We Can
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesAs Mary “did what she could” in anointing the body of Jesus (Mark 14:1-9; cf. John 11:2; John 12:3), so each of us must “do what we can” in serving the Lord. Our efforts may not seem significant, but God sees them, and can use them for His glory (Isaiah 43:7; Matthew 5:16).
The story is told of a man who was taking a well-deserved vacation aboard a cruise ship. As the winds became stronger, the ship began to sway back and forth. As a result, the man became terribly seasick, having to confine himself to his cabin.
One night he heard a cry, “Man overboard!” In his mind, he felt that there was nothing he could do to help. He thought about the situation for a moment and said, “I can at least put my lantern in the porthole.” So, he slowly got to his feet and hung the light so that it would shine out into the darkness.
When morning came, he learned about a man who had accidentally fallen overboard during the night. After his rescue, he told the men onboard, “I was going down in the dark night for the last time when someone put a light in a porthole. As it shone on my hand, a sailor in a lifeboat grabbed it and pulled me in.”
Brethren and friends, no matter how few talents we have, no matter how insignificant we may think we are, we can, like Mary and the man in the above story, “do what we can” (Mark 14:8) in helping to accomplish God’s will and purpose here on earth.
What a joyous occasion it will be when our Master looks into our eyes on that final day, and tells us with a loving smile, “Well done, good and faithful servant, [you did what you could], enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21).