SHE DID WHAT SHE COULD

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Key Verse

Context

  • 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

Examples

Examples of those who did what they could
 
  • Shunammite Woman: One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” … Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” 2 Kings 4:8-10, 15-16 NIV
  • Boy with 5 loaves & 2 fishes: “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?” “Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:10-13 BSB
  • Simon Peter’s boat: Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat. When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tearSo they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. Luke 5:3-7 BSB
  • The Widow’s 2 mites: And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Luke 21:1-4 NKJV

These all did/gave what they could and were amply rewarded.

Conclusion

“What will I wish I had done with my life thousands of years hence?

  1. Spend time with God daily. Read QUIET TIME
  2. Go – Give – Pray. 
  3. Share gospel:  e.g. give tracts, messages to unsaved. Read EVANGELISM
  4. Use your skillset for God
Reference: The Divine Art of Soul Winning by J.O. Sanders

Footnotes