Values Blog
Pour It Out
“She has done what she could.” Mark 14:8
“The beds are all made, and the dishes are done.” These were among the last words my mother’s best friend, Margaret, spoke from her hospital bed. Maybe not the most profound statement for the summation of a life, but as I read from the book of Mark this week, my esteem for this epithet grew. In the brief account of the woman who poured out her treasured perfume to anoint and honor Christ, Jesus’ words seemed remarkably similar to Margaret’s—“She has done what she could.” Sweet words of praise that reminded me of the honor found in faithfully completing simple tasks. They are also words that challenge me to take inventory and ask if I am doing “what I can” for Christ.
I guess the best way to answer this question is to ask a few more. First, what do I know to do? The gospels are full of answers to this one. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind … [and] the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-38). He also gave His followers a mission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20).
Wow—easy to recite but quite a lot to be accountable for.
And those commands tell us what we are to do but not a lot about how we are to do it. How can I be like that woman Jesus praised and “do what I can?” Well, although I don’t know much about her, I do know she had a treasure. She owned a jar of very expensive perfume—and she poured it all out for Jesus. What do I have to give? Each one of us will have a different answer to this question. Some have beautiful voices to sing praises to the Lord. Others are great at sending a card at just the right time. And still others are truth speakers and kindergarten teachers and good friends and smart businessmen and artists and writers and homemakers and on and on. The list is unending because God’s creativity is measureless. The question is how has He is gifted you—and He has gifted you—and are you willing to pour your gift out for Him?
Finally, do you have peace? Paul addressed this subject in his letter to the Philippians, “Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9). There is nothing like the peace that’s found in knowing you’ve worked hard and done a good job. Mowing the yard or grading a stack of papers or washing the dishes—whatever the task—there is peace when you know you’ve done all you can and the work is done. I imagine that is how the woman felt as the last drop of perfume touched Jesus’ head and how Margaret felt as she knew her house was in order. All done. Poured completely out. Nothing held back. Yes. That’s the way to live!
[By Lisa Huddleston]
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