DO WHAT YOU CAN

MARK 14:3-9

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

A lot of people don’t do anything for Christ because they think they can’t do anything worth noticing. Some people won’t give because they feel, compared to others, they can’t give much. I have been told that most of the great ministries of the world were supported almost entirely by small gifts. Do what you can. Some people don’t want to speak for Christ because they can’t speak to great crowds – most people are won to Christ on a one-to-one basis. And even those who have won multitudes, in most cases, were won by individuals. Despise not the day of small things. Do what you can. Some people don’t do anything for fear they will be criticized, besides the fact that they will be criticized for doing nothing I remind you of the words of Lee Roberson, “Critics are a dime a dozen. Any fool can criticize!” So what of this woman in Mark 14? John 12 tells us the woman is Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. What can we learn from her?

 

I. HER LABOR WAS SPECIFIC

 

1. It was What She Had [v. 3, 5]

 

-too many claim they would serve God if they had more talent, more opportunity, more something

-if you won’t serve God with what you have, you probably wouldn’t serve Him if you had more

 

2. It was What She Could [v. 8] we may not can do some things, are we doing what we can?

 

-every Christian has a unique contribution only he can render

-God called us to make a contribution - not a comparison

-do what you can- be yourself!

 

3. It was What She Wanted [v. 3]

 

-she may have known of the other woman in Lk 7:36-40

-indeed, the other woman may have inspired her, your action may cause someone else to serve God

 

 

II. HER LABOR WAS SPURNED

 

1. By Greedy Judas [v. 4, Jn. 12:4-6]

 

-the lost don’t understand spiritual service

-this critic went out and sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver after this [Mt. 26:10-16]

-is Judas really who you want to follow on serving Jesus?

 

2. By Gullible Disciples [v. 5] criticism is contagious

 

3. But Not by Jesus [v. 6-7] “every work for Jesus will be blessed- but He asks of everyone …”

 

III. HER LABOR WAS SPIRITUAL

 

1. By it She Remembered Christ’s Word [Lk. 10:38-42- perhaps a telling of Lk 7]

 

2. By it She Recognized Christ’s Work [v. 8, John 12:7]

 

Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Matthew 26:12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

 

3. By it She is Rewarded Christ’s Way [v. 9, Rm. 14:7-13]

 

-We should give ourselves to Christ & His work- labor every day like it is our last.

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord , every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.